Lewis Hamilton’s journey with Scuderia Ferrari has not begun in the smooth and triumphant fashion many had imagined during the winter break, when expectations for his arrival were sky-high. Following disappointing performances in Belgium and Hungary, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion has found himself at the centre of heated discussions — both for the poor results achieved on track and for the unusually self-critical remarks he made after qualifying sessions. An ex-Ferrari driver has now spoken out, offering revealing insights into the background of Hamilton’s move to Maranello.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend was one to forget for the British driver. Hamilton finished the sprint qualifying session down in eighteenth place, followed by a fifteenth-place result in the sprint race itself. Saturday’s main qualifying session brought no relief, as he once again failed to progress beyond Q1. On race day he managed a partial recovery, crossing the line in seventh place, but it was far from a result that could leave him satisfied, given his ambitions and reputation.
The Hungarian Grand Prix brought no respite. Lewis Hamilton ended both qualifying and the race in twelfth position, once again struggling for pace. It was after Saturday’s qualifying session in Budapest that the driver of car number 44 walked into the interview area and made statements that sparked widespread debate. In a moment of self-deprecation, Hamilton described himself as “useless” and even suggested that Ferrari should consider replacing him, citing the discouraging comparison between his performances and those of his team-mate, Charles Leclerc.
Arturo Merzario on Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties
Arturo Merzario, a former Formula 1 driver who raced for Ferrari in the early years of his career, addressed Hamilton’s comments in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I think his outburst was, in some ways, ironic,” Merzario said. “Certainly, his position was not what one would expect from a seven-time world champion.”
The Italian went further, suggesting that Lewis Hamilton may be feeling “demoralised” by his experience at Ferrari so far. “In my opinion, his arrival in Maranello was primarily a commercial operation. From what I know, around 90% of the people working at Ferrari were against the idea. And when a driver does not feel valued or like an integral part of the team working towards a common goal, he loses motivation.”
Explaining why Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari has been more complicated than anticipated, Arturo Merzario added: “Why go crazy to gain three-tenths of a second if you are still going to start from the third row of the grid?”
Arturo Merzario concluded with a message aimed at reassuring Lewis Hamilton’s fans. “Lewis is not finished. He is simply waiting for the right opportunity. He will take risks only when it is necessary, not for an eighth-place finish. Also, if he ever wanted to leave, he would easily find another team. Hamilton has already proven his worth. He is not in the same situation as Leclerc — Charles still has to prove that he is a true champion.”
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