Jenson Button realised Lewis Hamilton was ‘insecure’ when he heard one Ferrari radio message

Follow us on Google Discover

Jenson Button says every Formula 1 driver is fundamentally ‘insecure’, even seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of F1 but, as Button points out, even he has ‘lost a lot more than he’s won’. Flipping his record around, the Briton has failed to win the title in 12 of his 19 seasons to date.

And while he has won 105 Grands Prix, he has started 384, so his winning percentage is 27.3%. Even though that puts him sixth among drivers with at least 10 victories, it still means he’s ‘lost’ 72.7% of his races.

We’ve seen some intense feuds between teammates. But what is the greatest rivalry ever?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Jenson Button: Even the great Lewis Hamilton is insecure

Speaking on the cool-down lap at last year’s Monaco GP, where he finished fifth, Hamilton asked former engineer Riccardo Adami: “Are you upset with me or something?”

He had thanked the team for their efforts during the weekend but received no response. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur said Adami had to wait until he was through the tunnel.

Hamilton failed to score a podium during his first year at Ferrari, triggering a spiral of self-doubt. At one point, he even called himself ‘useless’ and said the team should replace him.

• READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton felt like Mercedes staff all ‘worked for him’ but everything was different at Ferrari

“As drivers, we’re flawed,” he said. “We are insecure. That will go for any driver. When I hear Lewis Hamilton on the radio last year in the Ferrari, when he asks a question and they don’t come back to him, he’s like, ‘Have I done something wrong?’

“You’re a seven-time world champion. The confidence you should have is out of this world, but insecurities just creep in.

“Lewis Hamilton, extraordinary what he’s achieved, but he’s still lost a lot more than he’s won. That’s mentally why it’s tough, in any sport.”

Michael Schumacher seemed ‘arrogant’, but he was hiding his vulnerabilities

Button says some drivers present a hard exterior so they don’t ‘let people in’ and show their weaknesses. He praised reigning world champion Lando Norris for his more open approach.

Asked if he thought Hamilton’s fellow seven-time champion Michael Schumacher struggled with insecurity, Button replied: “Yes, I do.

• READ MORE: Jock Clear picks between Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton in equal cars after working with both

“There’s certain drivers that I’ve thought, ‘he comes across as a bit arrogant.’ But it’s not [that], they just don’t want to let people in. They know they have insecurities, which is the biggest issue because then you never get over those insecurities.”

And while Max Verstappen is regarded as perhaps the most ruthless competitor on the current grid, Button says he’s not immune either: “Yes, I still think there’s an insecurity there. It comes down to, you lose more than you win.”