'Does Hamilton continue to believe' in the Ferrari dream?

      "It’s heartbreaking to witness him in this state."

      Lewis Hamilton's challenging start with Ferrari faced another setback following a costly crash at Zandvoort. The 40-year-old had entered the summer break expressing feelings of "uselessness" and fueling retirement speculation, but upon returning, he pledged to enjoy racing again. At Zandvoort, he appeared more positive and assertive, yet still lagged behind teammate Charles Leclerc before his crash. "Aside from that, it was a really solid weekend," asserted the seven-time world champion. "I feel we’ve made genuine progress. However, it’s not typical for me to crash out of a race. I can’t elaborate much further on that."

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, known for his critiques, remarked to Sky Deutschland: "In German racing terminology, that was akin to first-grade elementary school. I’m increasingly baffled. On one hand, he has the capability, but he’s placing himself under tremendous pressure. If change doesn’t occur soon, it might be better for him to stop," the German stated. "It’s tragic to see him in this condition."

      Veteran Italian journalist Leo Turrini echoed similar sentiments on his Quotidiano blog: "A poor car isn’t Hamilton’s fault, but he alone is responsible for his crash. So the question arises again - does Lewis still have faith in it, or has he mentally checked out, already sated with fame and wealth?"

      The broader Italian media was equally harsh, suggesting that the support network around Maranello might be starting to weaken. La Gazzetta dello Sport commented: "Ferrari is in shambles, Hamilton is in a dire situation - a serious and atypical error." Corriere della Sera added: "Hamilton’s blunder was inexcusable, and now with a five-place grid penalty for Monza, is the dream over?"