Schumacher now goes after Hamilton in F1 retirement call: 'I went through it too'

After his P12 result in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, a distraught Hamilton branded himself as 'useless' and thought Ferrari should 'maybe switch drivers'.

Speaking on Sky Sports Germany's broadcast, Schumacher judged Hamilton's situation.

"He's not really getting to grips with the car. He doesn't really know how to cope with it," the former F1 driver said.

With 14 Grands Prix to his name, Hamilton is still struggling to come to terms with the Ferrari. "He obviously can't completely change his driving style," added the German to his analysis.

"Yes, that's a tendency that happens very, very quickly. I've personally experienced the same thing. That was in the DTM, where I said: 'Okay, there's no point in this anymore.' I handed the car in a year early," said Schumacher recounting his own past experience of being in a similar situation to Hamilton's.

For the former F1 driver, there's no other choice for Hamilton but to join him in the list of F1 retiree's.

"I trust him to be able to do it and to do it. Because this is such a bitter disappointment, and he doesn't know what to do. Not immediately, of course, but something like that can always happen," Schumacher concluded.

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal answering a question from GPblog was quick to jump in the defense of Hamilton.

”He is frustrated but not demotivated," the Frenchman said. 

Toto Wolff, his team boss at Mercedes until 2024, also ushered in for Hamilton giving him a resounding vote of confidence, speaking to GPblog among other media.