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Lewis Hamilton is all set to depart for Ferrari in 2025 with just three races left in his career at the Silver Arrows. A career that has brought him six of his seven Drivers’ Championship titles. While it has been an end of era ,an historic moment for F1 fans, Hamilton's exit has been overshadowed by underwhelming performances in his current season.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Hamilton has won only two Grand Prix races and has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the Mercedes car, recently claiming that the W15 is the ‘worst the car has ever been.’
Former Haas F1 Team principal Guenther Steiner has suggested that Hamilton’s complaints about the car have been easier to make given that his departure from the team is imminent.
Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner remarked: “I mean, the car, it is what it is. I think Lewis is just at that point he doesn’t like the car, he complains about that, he sees the glass half empty while George sees his half full. They’ve got a few more races to go.”
On the contrast between Hamilton and teammate George Russell, Steiner added: “George [Russell] has got all the interest to do whatever is there to show that he’s the leader of the team for the future. He has to prove that, because he knows that when his Mercedes contract is up, his seat is not 100 per cent safe so he just tries to do his best, puts everything into it.”
He continued: “And on the other side, Lewis doesn’t like the car and how it drives, knows that now in three races he’s not there anymore.”
Steiner’s comments echo those made by Bernie Ecclestone, who has questioned whether Hamilton made the right decision in moving to Ferrari.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ecclestone said “However, from Lewis' point of view, it may not have been a mistake to join Ferrari. He couldn't exist any longer at Mercedes. Either he's given up with them or they have given up on him. They wouldn't do much to keep him, so he is better off going.”
On the prospect of Hamilton walking away from Ferrari before even racing for them, Ecclestone noted: “He would have to walk away from a lot financially. It is a big deal he has got, though I suspect the bonus clauses written into his contract are there to make him feel good rather than reality.”
Lewis Hamilton is currently 7th in the Drivers Standing 2024 with 190 points.
