Lewis Hamilton has upset Ferrari fans by failing to follow Michael Schumacher’s example this season

Follow us on Google Discover

Lewis Hamilton has four more opportunities to finish on the podium during his first season as a Ferrari driver.

The upcoming Sao Paulo Grand Prix has been a happy hunting ground for Lewis Hamilton in the past, winning three times and finishing on the podium on seven occasions at Interlagos during his Formula 1 career.

Ferrari last won a race in Brazil in 2017, when Sebastian Vettel beat Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen, with Hamilton only able to finish fourth after starting from the pit lane.

At the moment, if any Ferrari driver is going to finish on the podium, it’ll likely be Charles Leclerc.

The Monegasque driver has secured all seven of Ferrari’s Grand Prix podiums in 2025, although Hamilton’s fans will cling onto his victory in the Sprint Race in China, which remains the only win Fred Vasseur’s team have experienced this season.

There have already been suggestions that Ferrari aren’t interested in extending Hamilton’s current contract.

Journalist Felix Gorner has now shared why he’s hearing that Ferrari fans are beginning to be ‘bothered’ by Hamilton ahead of the conclusion of his first season racing for the Scuderia.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Ferrari fans ‘bothered’ by Lewis Hamilton contract after failing to replicate Michael Schumacher’s dominance

Gorner was writing for Sport after the Mexico City Grand Prix when Hamilton looked set to record his first podium finish.

Hamilton received a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage while battling Max Verstappen and eventually finished eighth.

Reflecting on his first year with Ferrari, Gorner said: “Hamilton’s performances in the Ferrari make two Germans look like giants.

“One is, of course, Michael Schumacher, who was already winning races in his first year in a red car. His history with the Scuderia shows that it is possible to succeed at Ferrari. But at the moment, Ferrari are succeeding with Hamilton.

“The other is Sebastian Vettel. He has performed better at Ferrari, not winning the world championship, but at least securing victories.

“Schumacher was immediately number one at Ferrari, and Vettel also asserted himself at the beginning. Hamilton, on the other hand, is driving slowly behind Leclerc.

“There is a lot lacking to say that the seven-time Formula 1 champion is worth his money at Ferrari.

“The Ferrari management is demanding world championship titles. That is the benchmark for team boss Frédéric Vasseur and the two drivers, especially Hamilton. He is expected to deliver the absolute maximum, not least to ensure a reasonable price-performance ratio.

“At the moment, there is more price than performance, which bothers many Ferraristi.”

Michael Schumacher won three races during his first season with Ferrari in 1996, and finished on the podium a further five times.

Hamilton would need a miracle to match the German’s winning record by the end of this season.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

How Lewis Hamilton’s contract compares to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc

Hamilton signed a two-year contract with Ferrari worth a reported £54.7m-a-year last year, ahead of his debut season with the team.

The 40-year-old shook up the driver market by announcing his move so early in 2024, leading to only two teams on the grid this season retaining both of their drivers from the previous year.

Hamilton controls an extension clause in his contract, meaning he could race for Ferrari until the end of the 2027 campaign.

In contrast to Hamilton’s bumper deal, Leclerc is reportedly only on a deal worth £19.9m-a-year.

Considering that there’s a very good chance that Leclerc finishes ahead of Hamilton in the drivers’ championship this year, he might be considering asking for a pay rise.