F1 | Ferrari risks immediately losing Lewis Hamilton’s trust, warns Bernie Collins. Ferrari risks losing Lewis Hamilton’s trust, especially after what happened in China.

The relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Scuderia Ferrari HP could start off on the wrong foot, with trust issues emerging early on. Raising the alarm is Bernie Collins, former F1 strategist and current analyst for Sky Sports F1, who believes that repeated errors by the team can quickly erode a driver’s confidence.

Strategic error in Melbourne and disqualification in Shanghai
Lewis Hamilton was disqualified at the end of the Chinese Grand Prix due to excessive wear on the skid block of his SF-25. This episode follows another critical moment in Australia, where a poor strategy affected his race. Bernie Collins highlighted how a sequence of negative events can undermine the relationship between driver and team.

“When Sebastian Vettel joined Aston Martin, I really wanted him to think we were good at our job,” Bernie Collins told Sky Sports. “I wanted him to trust us, to think ‘if they call me to the pits, it’s the right thing to do.’ Now, with Lewis, there has been a strategy issue, a radio problem, and now a disqualification: all of this can shake confidence.”

Ferrari’s difficulties and doubts about Charles Leclerc’s car inspection
Bernie Collins also pointed out the technical struggles Lewis Hamilton faced in China, where he appeared to struggle significantly with race pace even before the disqualification. “Lewis had a really tough time in the car on Sunday, and on top of that, the car was illegal. The setup changes didn’t deliver the expected results, and that adds to the driver’s confusion,” she explained.

According to Bernie Collins, the key to avoiding further similar issues is clear: “It is the direct responsibility of the race engineer to ensure that the car complies with regulations. It’s up to them to make sure there are no violations, whether in weight or floor wear.” – the Formula One strategy analyst for Sky Sports and F1TV continued.

Another point raised by Bernie Collins concerns the lack of thorough checks on Charles Leclerc’s SF-25. While Hamilton’s car weight and floor compliance were verified, it has not been confirmed whether Leclerc underwent the same inspections. “It would be interesting to know if Charles was also legal in terms of plank wear,” she added. In short, Ferrari must also work on earning its drivers’ trust.