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Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
What Lewis Hamilton isn't getting from Ferrari as Michael Schumacher point made
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has had a tough start to life as a Ferrari driver, and Ralf Schumacher believes the Brit may walk away from the sport if his luck doesn't change Ralf Schumacher admits that Lewis Hamilton's career with Ferrari hasn't begun as he might have hoped, and the British racing legend isn't getting the "special protection" he received during his time at Mercedes. The 40-year-old's switch from Mercedes to the Scuderia happened during the 2025 offseason, following Hamilton's earlier announcement about leaving the Silver Arrows before the 2024 season commenced. However, his journey has been rocky thus far. His peak performance in the primary races was fifth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite showing promising signs during sprint events, including in Miami, where he finished third. Ex-F1 star Ralf Schumacher, brother of motorsport legend Michael, has shared his insight on Hamilton's tenure at Ferrari, and claims that Hamilton faces the challenge that his new team does not tolerate poor results lightly. Speaking to Sport Bild, Schumacher said:"At Mercedes, Hamilton was under special protection – that's no longer the case at Ferrari. "Fred Vasseur shows how serious things are there. He used to always have a light-hearted joke. But now he's lost his sense of humour." Schumacher has drawn parallels between his brother Michael's illustrious tenure with Ferrari, where he clinched five consecutive F1 World Championships, and the current challenges faced by Hamilton. He highlighted the rigorous preparation that was a hallmark of Michael's time at Scuderia, adding: "When Michael moved to Ferrari, he tested the car for 35,000 kilometres in the winter. "The message was clear: preparation and car development tailored to the driver make all the difference, and Hamilton may not have been given the optimal foundation for success in 2025." Hamilton himself is feeling the pressure on the track, as he expressed his frustration at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and his lack of enthusiasm for the upcoming Miami race. Post-race, he said: "There wasn't a single second where I felt comfortable. No fun, no flow, nothing positive. "I think I'll struggle also in Miami. I don't know how much longer I'll struggle for, but it's definitely painful. At the moment, there's no fix. So, this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. It's going to be painful." Schumacher agrees with Hamilton's sentiments, adding that Hamilton is facing the issue that the car isn't tailored to how he drives. Ralf said: "You can see how much the situation is weighing on him. When you feel you're stuck as a driver, anything can happen. "I don't know why they thought they could compete for the championship. With a car that was actually built for Charles Leclerc. And that he only tested for two days in Bahrain." Schumacher also shared with Sky Germany's Backstage Pit Lane podcast that if the current situation at Ferrari persists, Hamilton might not stick around for long. He added: "You can see that he's really slumped over. "If you're standing there at some point and have no more resources and are permanently slower, then you lose everything. I know from my own experience: if it goes on like this, it's no fun anymore. "If it goes on like this, there's a risk that at some point he'll say: 'Look, I don't want this anymore'. Obviously, it's not working out for some reason. It's a huge project that Ferrari and Hamilton had in mind, but at the moment, he's a long way away from Charles Leclerc." Hamilton secured third place in Saturday's tumultuous sprint race thanks to a perfectly timed pit stop, which gave the team some hope for for the main race. However, he's set to start 12th on the grid after failing to advance beyond the second qualifying session.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
F1 Great Ayrton Senna Heads Automotive Hall of Fame Class of Inductees
The Automotive Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 Class, and it's a fast class to be sure. The class includes Formula 1 great Ayrton Senna, land-speed pioneer Betty Skelton, industry executive Dieter Zetsche and former Car and Driver automotive journalist David E. Davis. The Automotive Hall of Fame, located in Dearborn, Mich., recognizes individuals whose efforts helped shape the automotive and mobility marketplace. 'The 2025 class of inductees showcases the remarkable impact individuals have made on the automotive industry and its far-reaching influence,' said Sarah Cook, president of the Automotive Hall of Fame. 'This distinguished group of trailblazers and visionaries has shaped our industry in extraordinary ways, and we are thrilled to celebrate their achievements as they take their rightful place in the Hall of Fame.' The announcement was made in Naples, Florida, on Wednesday. This year's class: Davis, a ground-breaking writer for Car and Driver, founded Automobile magazine in 1985. He helped redefine automotive journalism by blending technical insights with cultural and emotional perspectives on driving. With more than 50 years in the industry, Davis became a mentor to young writers and set the standard for automotive journalism today. He died in 2011 at the age of 80. With three F1 World Championships, 41 wins and 65 pole positions, Senna is one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all-time. The Brazilian great died at the age of 34 in a crash at the San Marina Grand Prix at the famed Imola circuit in Italy. His legacy carries on through the Ayrton Senna Institute, which has been working for 30 years to improve public education and create opportunities for underprivileged children in Brazil. Skelton, who died in 2011, was a pioneer in both the fields of aviation and in automobiles and came to be known as the "First Lady of Firsts. And for good reason. Skelton was an acrobatic airplane pilot, Chevrolet Corvette test driver and daredevil speed racer. In 1954, NASCAR head Bill France Sr. invited Skelton to drive a pace car on Daytona Beach, where she set a women's record of 105 mph for stock-car speed on the beach. In 1956, Skelton joined General Motors' advertising partner, Campbell-Ewald, and became the first woman technical narrator at major auto shows. She soon began test-driving Corvettes. She also helped launch the magazine Corvette News (later called Corvette Quarterly). The first woman to drive an Indy car, Skelton also set land-speed marks at Bonneville Salt Flats and set a transcontinental speed record in 1956 from New York to Los Angeles when she covered the 2,913 miles in 56 hours and 58 minutes. Industry exectutive Dieter Zetsche is renowned for his transformative leadership that emphasized innovation, sustainability, and global expansion. Under his guidance, Daimler launched initiatives, including the Smart car and the EQ electric vehicle brand, solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable mobility. Zetsche's strategic focus on digitalization, connectivity, and autonomous driving propelled Daimler into the future. His visionary approach and charismatic leadership left a lasting impact on Daimler and the broader automotive industry.
