Hamilton receives 'controversial' criticism as Ferrari....

Hamilton receives ‘controversial’ criticism as Ferrari….read more

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has faced sharp criticism following a disappointing performance in the previous season. He finished seventh in the championship standings, trailing his younger teammate George Russell by 22 points. Russell managed to outshine Hamilton, both in qualifying and race results, claiming victory in 15 out of their 24 head-to-head races and out-qualifying him by a significant margin of 19 to 5.

Former F1 driver David Coulthard expressed his discontent with Hamilton’s performance during an interview on Viaplay, stating that it was a significant letdown for someone of Hamilton’s caliber. Coulthard remarked, “I would still point to Lewis as the biggest disappointment. I know that’s controversial as he’s a seven-time world champion and a real winning machine, but I’ve never seen this Lewis in Formula 1.” He emphasized that Hamilton failed to extract the necessary speed from the Mercedes W15 car, especially during crucial qualifying sessions, where he believes the greatest drivers can consistently find an extra edge.

Hamilton’s struggles last season were somewhat overshadowed by his announcement on February 1, 2024, regarding his move to Ferrari in 2025, which has been hailed as one of the most significant driver transfers in recent Formula 1 history. This news generated a considerable buzz within the racing community, with fans and analysts eager to see how this transition will unfold. Coulthard acknowledged the excitement surrounding Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, noting the immediate surge in the team’s stock prices following the announcement. He pointed out that the enthusiasm surrounding Hamilton’s signing has likely helped Ferrari offset the financial implications of bringing in a star driver like him.

Despite the excitement, Coulthard raised concerns about Hamilton’s recent performance, suggesting that Ferrari should be wary of his struggles last season. He referenced the importance of data in Formula 1, highlighting that performance metrics don’t lie. “The stopwatch doesn’t lie and at the moment it just doesn’t deliver in terms of lap times,” he stated, indicating that the team needs to address