Lewis Hamilton has had a disappointing season with Ferrari to this point, with the British racing star admitting that issues are ‘not nice’ behind the scenes on the F1 workforce
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 may 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. Talking to Sky Sports activities F1, the 40-year-old stated: “When you could have a sense, you could have a sense. There’s so much happening within the background that’s not nice.”
This cryptic remark seems to indicate 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 desperate to return following the game’s summer time hiatus, Hamilton added: “I look ahead to coming again… hopefully I shall be again, yeah.”
Loads have interpreted Hamilton’s phrases as referring to bouncing again to his championship-winning type, although some supporters concern this may sign one thing extra drastic relating to his future, having alarmingly informed Ferrari final weekend to exchange him.
After the Hungarian GP, former F1 workforce 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 varied interviews, I perceive [that] Lewis is complaining about issues that had been promised to him however have not arrived. It is troublesome 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 workforce, urging Ferrari to do the whole lot potential to maintain Hamilton content material for the foreseeable future – or danger 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 have to be emphasised that after so a few years with the identical workforce, it is not simple 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 contemplate an awesome driver, had been meant to focus on Leclerc’s degree, as he had put a automotive on pole wherein he had by no means completed increased 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 necessary issues. Solely Ferrari is aware of precisely what’s taking place. It will likely be an important subject between now and the top of the season: we should forestall him from going elsewhere to show he nonetheless has one thing to supply.”
Ferrari workforce principal Fred Vasseur was swift to dismiss any rumours of unrest throughout the squad, insisting that Hamilton is solely pissed off however will bounce again to his peak efficiency quickly. He stated: “I need not inspire him. He’s pissed off however not demotivated, that could be a completely different story. I can completely perceive the state of affairs.”
While Hamilton has endured a troublesome patch in latest outings, supporters shall be desperate to witness the previous world champion rediscover his most interesting type behind the wheel – and one particular person stays satisfied that may happen.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes workforce boss and one in all Hamilton’s closest allies in F1, believes his former driver should present better belief in his talents to reclaim his place on the summit.
Talking following the newest race, Wolff stated: “He was arduous on himself. We’ve got seen it earlier than when he felt he had not met his personal expectations. However he’s the Goat. That’s one thing he all the time wants to recollect – that he’s the best of all time.”
Hamilton will be part of his fellow F1 opponents in unwinding through 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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