Ralf Schumacher slams Lewis Hamilton: “He needs to stop acting like that”
The relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari continues to spark debate. Pointing the finger at the seven-time world champion is Ralf Schumacher, a former Formula 1 driver and Michael’s brother, who believes the Brit should change his attitude and integrate more fully into the Maranello team: “Hamilton needs to stop this behavior and integrate with the team. Right now, I get the feeling there’s a bit of friction between Lewis and the team,” he said during Sky Sport Germany’s “Backstage Pit Lane” program.
At the heart of the criticism is what happened during the most recent Singapore Grand Prix, when Hamilton decided to stay on the track despite instructions from the Ferrari pit wall to return to the pits during the Virtual Safety Car period. It was an independent decision that proved to be a mistake: the British driver suffered severe tire degradation, lost positions, and finished the race in sixth place. After the race, Hamilton took responsibility for the decision and apologized to the team. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur also called the incident a mistake, noting that Ferrari could have secured second and third place.
For Schumacher, however, the incident is a sign of a deeper problem within the team’s internal dynamics. “Lewis tries to overshadow everyone and act like the boss,” said the former German driver, suggesting that the situation within the team is far from harmonious. Schumacher’s concerns also extend to the relationship between Hamilton and Vasseur, which has already come under scrutiny following Ferrari’s recent results. “I also get the impression that things aren’t going smoothly with Vasseur,” he explained, casting doubt on whether there is direct and effective dialogue regarding the changes the Briton would like to make.
According to the former driver, the risk is that individual ambitions will end up taking precedence over collective goals. “If internal competition becomes more important than the brand and the team’s progress, sooner or later the situation will get complicated,” is the gist of his analysis. Schumacher also warned that, if tensions continue, someone might end up leaving the team.
