Lewis Hamilton has had a disappointing season with Ferrari to date, with the British racing star admitting that issues are ‘not nice’ behind the scenes on the F1 group
Ferrari has been accused of failing to ship on guarantees made to Lewis Hamilton following his confession that issues are “not nice” behind the scenes. The seven-time world champion might solely handle twelfth place on the Hungarian Grand Prix final weekend, with teammate Charles Leclerc coming fourth within the race.
After the race, Hamilton did not maintain again when discussing his troubled spell with the Italian outfit. Chatting with Sky Sports activities F1, the 40-year-old stated: “When you’ve got a sense, you’ve got a sense. There’s rather a lot occurring within the background that isn’t nice.”
This cryptic remark seems to suggest that turmoil is brewing behind closed doorways as Hamilton struggles to maintain tempo with teammate Leclerc, who’s now 42 factors forward of the seven-time champion within the drivers’ standings on 151 factors.
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When requested if he was wanting to return following the game’s summer time hiatus, Hamilton added: “I look ahead to coming again… hopefully I can be again, yeah.”
Loads have interpreted Hamilton’s phrases as referring to bouncing again to his championship-winning kind, although some supporters concern this may sign one thing extra drastic relating to his future, having alarmingly informed Ferrari final weekend to switch him.
After the Hungarian GP, former F1 group boss Gian Carlo Minardi informed Gazzetta dello Sport that he believes Ferrari had damaged guarantees with Hamilton throughout their partnership this season.
He stated: “From numerous interviews, I perceive [that] Lewis is complaining about issues that have been promised to him however have not arrived. It is tough to make judgments, in any case. I feel Ferrari are looking for a greater path for Leclerc proper now.”
The 77-year-old acknowledged he “anticipated one thing extra” from the F1 group, urging Ferrari to do every thing doable to maintain Hamilton content material for the foreseeable future – or threat dropping him. “I believed Ferrari was aiming for technical continuity, after coming near profitable the constructors’ championship in 2024, however that wasn’t the case,” Minardi stated.
“As for Hamilton, it should be emphasised that after so a few years with the identical group, it isn’t straightforward to vary working strategies and languages. And he is additionally discovered a really quick team-mate.
“I consider the statements he made in Hungary, which many have criticised however which I think about an ideal driver, have been meant to focus on Leclerc’s degree, as he had put a automotive on pole by which he had by no means completed larger than twelfth.”
He added: “It is unfair to say he is on the finish of his profession; when he is had the chance, he is proven he can nonetheless do vital issues. Solely Ferrari is aware of precisely what’s occurring. Will probably be an important problem between now and the tip of the season: we should forestall him from going elsewhere to show he nonetheless has one thing to supply.”
Ferrari group principal Fred Vasseur was swift to dismiss any rumours of unrest inside the squad, insisting that Hamilton is just pissed off however will bounce again to his peak efficiency quickly. He stated: “I need not encourage him. He’s pissed off however not demotivated, that may be a totally different story. I can completely perceive the state of affairs.”
While Hamilton has endured a tough patch in current outings, supporters can be wanting to witness the previous world champion rediscover his best kind behind the wheel – and one particular person stays satisfied that may happen.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes group boss and one in all Hamilton’s closest allies in F1, believes his former driver should present higher belief in his talents to reclaim his place on the summit.
Talking following the newest race, Wolff stated: “He was onerous on himself. We’ve seen it earlier than when he felt he had not met his personal expectations. However he’s the Goat. That’s one thing he at all times wants to recollect – that he’s the best of all time.”
Hamilton will be part of his fellow F1 opponents in unwinding in the course of the sport’s summer time hiatus. The Dutch Grand Prix marks the championship’s return to the monitor on the finish of August.
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