Vasseur: Hamilton experiencing 'excessive highs and lows'

      "I need to talk to Lewis about it first."

      The initial signs of criticism towards Lewis Hamilton are surfacing from within the Ferrari team. The seven-time world champion's transition from Mercedes to Maranello was perhaps the most discussed topic of the winter, but after five races, it's evident that the 40-year-old is having difficulties. Hamilton's demeanor notably declined in Saudi Arabia. When asked if he felt at ease in the car at Jeddah, the record-holder of 105 career grand prix wins replied, "No, not at all. I mean, the car is clearly capable of finishing third since Charles (Leclerc) is on the podium, so I can’t attribute it to the car." The Briton added, "Clearly I’m not satisfied with my results, and I know the fans aren't pleased. I’m sure the team isn't content either, and I know the management isn't happy." When queried about whether he knows what to do to improve, Hamilton simply replied: "No. There's really nothing to gain from these three weeks other than recognizing that I’m slow. There’s a lot in the data, but to be honest, the difference with Charles in the data doesn’t appear significant. It’s just... I’m slower in the corners. We have a slightly different setup, so I need to check if the car responds better to that setup. Clearly, Charles and his side are just performing better. I have a week of work ahead, not a week of rest. After today, I will have to cancel some commitments." Nevertheless, Hamilton doesn't see any hope on the horizon for now. "I think I’ll struggle in Miami too," he remarked. "I’m uncertain how long this will last, but it’s definitely tough. There’s no solution currently," he told Sky Italia. "So... that’s how it will be for the rest of the year. It’s going to be difficult," Hamilton lamented, jokingly suggesting that perhaps a "brain transplant" could help. Team principal Frederic Vasseur has robustly defended the necessary adjustment phase for Hamilton, though hints of frustration became evident in Jeddah late on Sunday. While praising Leclerc’s first podium of the season, Vasseur commented on Hamilton’s performance: "It was more challenging for him — 30 seconds behind Charles. He had a decent second stint, but he struggled towards the end. He’s experiencing too many fluctuations; there are ups and downs for both him and the team." The Frenchman continued to Sky Deutschland: "I haven’t talked about it with him, but the situation is a bit inconsistent. He hasn’t always been that far off the pace, but I need to discuss it with Lewis first." When asked what he believes is wrong with Hamilton, Vasseur responded: "It's about having confidence in the car and also confidence in himself, as everything is new for him here." Conversely, former senior Ferrari engineer Toni Cuquerella does not believe Hamilton is still adjusting to the unfamiliar Maranello-built car. "I think it won’t be long before he fully adapts," he said to DAZN. "He’s already made the adjustment. This is the Hamilton we have in F1 now — the same one who left Mercedes with (George) Russell ahead of him."