Ralf Schumacher reveals how Ferrari internally feel about Lewis Hamilton’s ‘useless’ comments at Hungarian GP

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Lewis Hamilton has sparked speculation over his Formula 1 future after a remarkable interview during a grim Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Hamilton called himself ‘useless’ and suggested that Ferrari should change their driver.

This came after he ended up 12th on the grid, the third qualifying session in a row where he’s failed to reach Q3. Hamilton would finish the race in the same position after an alternative one-stop strategy didn’t come off.

While team principal Fred Vasseur naturally put his superstar driver’s comments down to frustration, Ferrari must consider whether the situation is tenable. Hamilton, whose form has been largely disappointing, has vacillated between defiant optimism and hopelessness all season.

Equally, pundits like Martin Brundle have questioned Hamilton’s appetite to continue. Brundle can’t see him racing until 2027 if the current cycle continues.

Ferrari aren’t ‘turning a blind eye’ to Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable self-criticism

Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Sky Germany pundit Ralf Schumacher weighed in on the possibility of Hamilton walking away from F1. He says it shouldn’t be ruled out.

Despite Vasseur’s comments, Schumacher says Ferrari aren’t ‘turning a blind eye’ to Hamilton’s public unravelling. He enters the summer break after his two poorest weekends of the year.

Schumacher has called on Hamilton to publicly express his commitment when F1 returns at Zandvoort. He still believes the 40-year-old can be quick when it all comes together, but that’s becoming an increasing rarity.

“It’s not out of the question,” Schumacher said of Hamilton quitting F1. “At Ferrari, they’re not turning a blind eye either. In my view, he either has to say: I’m hanging up my helmet, or he has to say: now more than ever.”

“Silverstone last year and China this year: When everything’s just right, he’s lightning fast. He just needs everything to work out for him. He worked hard for that with Mercedes, but now he just doesn’t have it anymore.”

The moment Ferrari should have known to expect trouble

It’s worth remembering that Hamilton said he was at Ferrari for the long haul back in June. That was a firm response to suggestions he was considering an early retirement.

And it was only a week and a half ago at the Belgian GP that Hamilton reaffirmed his determination to win the title at Ferrari and thus succeed where Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso had failed.

But those comments have naturally been overshadowed by the nadir he reached in Budapest. To make it even more painful, it has historically been one of his best circuits.

Speaking last November while he was still a Mercedes driver, Hamilton said he wasn’t ‘fast anymore’. Perhaps Ferrari should have taken that as a warning about his state of mind before he even arrived at Maranello.