Schumacher casts verdict on Vasseur’s assessment of Hamilton’s recent comments

20:16, 27 Aug

byTobia Elia

Ralf Schumacher commented on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult start to the season at Ferrari, echoing team principal Frederic Vasseur’s view that the seven-time world champion is overly self-critical and harsh in his judgments.

The first part of the season has not been kind to Lewis Hamilton, who surely expected a stronger start to his Ferrari adventure. After the first fourteen races, he has scored just 109 points and, aside from his sprint win in China, has yet to reach the podium.

Adding to this are statements Hamilton made throughout the year, especially during the last Grand Prix in Hungary, which did not sit well with Frederic Vasseur. The team principal described the seven-time world champion as overly self-critical at times and excessively harsh in his judgments.

The Frenchman also added that he had underestimated the adaptation period Hamilton would need when moving from a radically different team like Mercedes to one like Ferrari, with a completely different philosophy and culture.

Ralf Schumacher

'You could have predicted it would take time'

Speaking specifically about the Englishman’s situation on Sky Sports’ Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Ralf Schumacher commented: ''Hamilton finds himself in this situation, and you could have predicted it would take time.''

''Of course, there was hope—probably Ferrari thought, “He’s a seven-time world champion, for a reason.” Sure, that’s true, but people forget that we don’t do testing anymore.''

''That’s something that surprised me, and it’s also why I was surprised by the reaction to my thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s move. Everyone immediately went overboard, as if I were criticizing him in some way. But unfortunately, it has turned out exactly that way.''

''I would have wished otherwise, because Lewis Hamilton being successful at Ferrari would have been another boost for Formula 1, especially globally and in the American market. But things have turned out differently for now.''

The former German driver also agrees with the French team principal’s perspective: ''I agree with what Fred Vasseur said, that Hamilton is handling it the wrong way. When you behave like he did—remember at the start of the year, there was already some mishandling—then rumors come up that he might retire, and he says, “I’m not retiring; now it really starts.”

''And three races later, he’s back in the same situation. Honestly, as a team boss, that would be too much for me.''