Lewis Hamilton warned he could now suffer the same ‘reputation’ issue as Michael Schumacher with Ferrari spell

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Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag in 12th at the Hungaroring on Sunday, marking his first classified finish outside of the points in a difficult first season with Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion looked like a shell of his former self in the media pen following qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Hamilton outlandishly suggested that Ferrari need to ‘change driver’ after he crashed out in Q2. His P12 grid slot was the lowest of his career in Hungary, a track he has dominated at in the past with nine pole positions under his belt.

Crossing the line in the same position he started and a lap behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton had to reaffirm his love for racing to reporters after the race, whilst also hinting towards some background issues at Ferrari.

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

Lewis Hamilton is at risk of degrading his reputation in F1 if his poor form at Ferrari continues

Speaking on the RacingNews365 NL podcast after the Hungarian GP weekend, journalist Ruud Dimmers brought a comparison to Hamilton‘s debut season with Ferrari to Michael Schumacher‘s return to F1 in 2010 with Mercedes.

Dimmers told his co-hosts, “You know what it reminds me of? Schumacher. Who had a brilliant career and bowed out end of 2006. Then came back one more time to try the trick again at Mercedes.

“And then suddenly he was beaten by Nico Rosberg. And nothing resembled the man who had dominated the sport for years. That was also one of those things like, “Ah, maybe you just shouldn’t have done it,” those three years he hung around.

“Not just numbers-wise did it bring nothing, but all his records also took a hit. The reputation he had as the beast. You suddenly got really dangerous moves. You got weird tricks. You got everything but the classic Schumacher. And with Hamilton, it seems to be the same.”

Hamilton equalled an unwanted Alain Prost record at the Hungarian GP, matching the Professor’s P12 finish at the 1993 edition of the race to become the second driver with at least four world championships to finish in such a low position at the track.

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

How does Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 at Mercedes compare to Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari?

When Lewis Hamilton announced his bombshell of a move to Ferrari before the beginning of the 2024 season, there were natural comparisons to Schumacher, considering both drivers’ exclusivity to being seven-time world champions.

Jacques Villeneuve recently compared Ferrari with Hamilton versus Schumacher, stating that the German had less to compete with outside of his own highly competitive team, which is in stark contrast to the Brit, who is in danger from all of the teams on the grid.

One of the contrasting elements of Hamilton’s tenure at Ferrari to Schumacher at Mercedes is the fact that Mercedes was a new team on the grid at the time of Schumacher’s return.

The German constructor took over the highly successful Brawn project, effectively ending McLaren’s stature as the works Mercedes team.

Ferrari are at the opposite end of the spectrum. As the most established team in the sport, Ferrari have their sights set on the championship ahead of every new season.