Lewis Hamilton reaching 'critical' point of underwhelming debut season with Ferrari - as F1 expert warns of 'growing concerns' in the Scuderia

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

Lewis Hamilton 's early season struggles with new team Ferrari has resulted in the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix becoming a 'critical' point in his campaign, believes Sky Sports' Karun Chandhok.
The seven-time world champion is still waiting for his first podium since joining the Scuderia from Mercedes, with his sixth-place finish at the Spanish GP providing the latest example of his travails.
According to former F1 driver Chandhok, there could now be 'concerns creeping in' at the constructor after a race in which Hamilton was told to let his teammate Charles Leclerc pass him after he was unable to keep pace with the the two McLarens and Max Verstappen.
Chandhok shared the view that Hamilton is struggling for rhythm and consistency after being 'comfortably' beaten by Leclerc, who finished third, notching a trio of podium finishes.
'It's starting to get a bit critical,' he said on the The F1 Show. 'We're coming into the second third of the season now, and he's not finding the rhythm. He's not finding consistency where week in, week out, he's in a happy place of the car.
'In Imola, he was woeful in qualifying, then suddenly the car's brilliant in the race. In Monaco, he wasn't quite there. He was a chunk behind Charles throughout. There's got to be a degree of concern creeping in. When you look at Spain, the fact that Charles overtook him and drove away from him quite comfortably, even before we go into the different tyres and stuff later on.
'If I was on the Lewis side of the garage, I would be concerned. We are nearly at halfway through the year now, we need to start understanding whether this a fundamental issue, that we need to change the direction of the set-up of the car.
'I'm not disputing that he's still got the ability. He clearly does. He's able to win races, we saw that in China, but they need to find a sweet spot for him, where every weekend he knows what he's got, and they haven't got that. He's still having too many good days and bad days. The fluctuations are too much.'
A dejected Hamilton made a brutal admission about his performance after his lacklustre showing in Spain last week.
After reappearing for his post-race media duties, the visibly frustrated 40-year-old couldn't help but snap while speaking to Sky Sports.
Pressed on his comment over team radio that there was 'something wrong' with his car, and for his immediate reaction to the race, Hamilton replied: 'Not particularly, it was not a great day. The strategy was good, the team did a great job. Just, that's it.'
Sky interviewer Rachel Brookes then told Hamilton: 'I hate seeing you in this mood.'
But Hamilton quickly fired back, replying: 'Well what do you want me to say? I had a really bad day and I've got nothing to say.
'It was a difficult day, I've got nothing else to add to it. There's no point explaining it. It's not your fault, I've just not got anything to say.'
Brookes admitted she hopes Ferrari will be able to find a fix for his woes, but Hamilton said: 'I'm sure they won't, the answer is probably just me.'
Hamilton trails Leclerc by 23 points in the drivers' championship and, damningly, has finished six of his first nine Ferrari races outside of the top five.
There have been criticisms of Hamilton's car this season, with team principal Fred Vasseur claiming there was an issue with the vehicle towards the end of the Spanish GP. The Ferrari team boss has since backed the veteran and insisted he needs only adjust 'the details' to challenge for podiums this term.
'Hamilton is only missing the details,' said Vasseur. 'We are talking about hundredths, which in this balanced Formula 1 can make the difference between a first and a third row - between a good weekend and a less good one.
'ut they remain details - understanding the car, setup, communication. It's normal when you change teams. Frustration? It's understandable.'