Lewis Hamilton’s ex-competitor has criticized Ferrari as being disorganized but maintains that Hamilton’s first season with the team has not been as disastrous as it may seem. Since starting with Ferrari this year, Hamilton’s aspirations of racing in the iconic red of Ferrari have not materialized as expected.
During his challenging initial months at Ferrari, the 40-year-old has shown signs of disappointment. Hamilton, typically confident, has surprisingly referred to himself as “useless,” clashed with his race engineer, and failed to secure a single podium finish, making him the longest-serving Ferrari driver without achieving this feat in the team’s history.
The recent Mexican Grand Prix exemplified his tumultuous season. Despite qualifying in third place, an incident with Max Verstappen forced Hamilton off-track and resulted in a 10-second penalty, leading to an eighth-place finish.
Currently, Hamilton sits in sixth place in the drivers’ standings, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc by 64 points. Yet, former F1 driver Esteban Gutierrez believes that Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari should be viewed in the broader context of the team’s dynamics.
Gutierrez, who competed against Hamilton for Sauber and Haas and had experience with Ferrari as a test and reserve driver in 2015, emphasized the differences between English and Italian teams. He noted that Ferrari operates with passionate, yet chaotic organization, making success a significant challenge compared to other teams.
Gutierrez sees potential for improvement in Hamilton, especially after observing a more comfortable performance by the driver at the Mexican Grand Prix. He emphasized the learning process for Hamilton at Ferrari and expressed optimism for his progress in the coming season.
Looking ahead to the upcoming regulation changes in 2026, Gutierrez believes they could benefit Hamilton by resetting the competition. Despite past tensions between Gutierrez and Hamilton, the Mexican driver now looks forward to a more positive relationship with the seven-time world champion.
In conclusion, Gutierrez’s insights shed light on the complexities of racing for Ferrari and the challenges Hamilton faces in adapting to the Italian team’s unique environment.