Hamilton needs to 'establish his presence' at Ferrari.

      "If I wanted a specific tyre, I would get it."

      24 September 2025 - 10:16

      Ralf Schumacher has voiced a new criticism of Lewis Hamilton, cautioning that Ferrari risks self-destruction unless the tensions between the seven-time world champion and the team are resolved. In Baku, the 40-year-old faced another challenging weekend, facing backlash for not swapping positions with Charles Leclerc on the last lap and expressing frustration over being knocked out in Q2 due to a disagreement with Ferrari’s tyre strategy.

      However, Schumacher told Sky Deutschland’s Backstage Boxengasse podcast that Hamilton is ultimately responsible for the situation. "He needs to accept the responsibility himself, given his experience and influence," stated the former Williams driver. "I wasn't a seven-time world champion; I only won a few races, but if I needed a specific tyre, I secured it without any debate. The driver knows the conditions best and should implement the strategy. An ordinary engineer wouldn't interfere with a driver's performance."

      Schumacher highlighted that Hamilton has become accustomed to being heavily managed at Mercedes. "This aligns with Toto Wolff’s approach - ‘Drivers are there to drive. We don’t involve them in decisions, we simply instruct them on what to do.’" He urged Hamilton to be more assertive. "Lewis needs to stand his ground and not search for blame elsewhere. If he does that, qualifying will be more favorable, which is what you expect from a seven-time world champion," the German remarked.

      Schumacher also expressed doubts about the relationship between Hamilton and his Ferrari engineer, Riccardo Adami. "The way they interact isn’t positive," he commented. "Moreover, Lewis’s criticism of the team raises concerns about their synergy. And the failure to revert positions with Leclerc before the finish line complicates things. Ferrari must address these issues internally, or it will lead to internal strife."

      He encouraged team principal Frederic Vasseur to tackle the problems head-on. "A storm can clear the air, allowing everyone to move forward." Schumacher added, "They simply need to communicate honestly. Boundaries and expectations must be clearly defined. If Lewis loses trust in the team and vice versa, it would be unfortunate. If mistrust arises, it might be better for both to part ways at the end of the year."

      Meanwhile, Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reflected on the gloomy atmosphere surrounding Ferrari. Journalist Giulia Toninelli contended that the primary issue lies with the car, not the drivers. "Even the star pairing that the Maranello team boasts—the most costly on the Formula 1 grid with a total salary of EUR 70 million (40 million for Hamilton and 30 million for Leclerc, excluding bonuses)—cannot yield results without a competitive car," she argued.

      Conversely, team principal Vasseur remained optimistic. "I’m not concerned about next year," he asserted. "I believe we have a team capable of winning, but we need to enhance every aspect and sustain this mindset."