Nov.25 (GMM) Ferrari is going through renewed stress after one other bleak weekend and more and more downbeat feedback from Lewis Hamilton, amid studies that the marque has deserted improvement of the deliberate F44 sports activities automotive.
The story was reported by well-connected Italian journalist Giorgio Terruzzi, including to what has grow to be a turbulent interval at Maranello after chairman John Elkann publicly scolded Hamilton to “speak much less”.
Hamilton certified final in Las Vegas, recovered to complete tenth on the highway – eighth after the McLaren disqualifications – however mentioned the outcome provided no consolation.
“It’s a horrible outcome, and I can’t take something constructive from it,” he instructed reporters. “I’ll be glad when it’s over, I’m trying ahead to the tip. And I’m not trying ahead to what comes subsequent.”
Requested if he meant the subsequent race, Hamilton replied: “The subsequent season.”
He insisted he’s not contemplating retirement. “No, no,” he mentioned.
However: “Simply after I thought issues couldn’t get any worse, they did.”
Talking to Sky Italia, the seven-time world champion admitted: “A want for the final two races? I’m positive I’ve run out of needs.”
He mentioned the earlier 22 grands prix had been “horrible”, asking why the subsequent two would abruptly be higher.
Terruzzi additionally claims Charles Leclerc is privately evaluating his personal future. “Leclerc will watch for Ferrari for the primary three or 4 races of the 2026 season,” he mentioned.
“If the outcomes are once more disappointing, he’ll grow to be an Aston Martin driver from 2027.”
Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov believes 2026 might be decisive for Hamilton himself.
“Followers have been anticipating good outcomes for a very long time, and Lewis Hamilton has been hit with a barrage of negativity,” he mentioned on the SMP Racing Telegram channel.
“I believe he needs to complete the season shortly. It will likely be fascinating to see how he prepares for 2026. It might be both a renaissance for him or the tip of his profession.”
Staff boss Frederic Vasseur, unusually quiet over the Vegas weekend after Elkann’s intervention, tried to convey calm after the race.
“I can perceive Lewis’s response proper after the race, however we have to relax, focus on it, and give attention to the subsequent two races,” he instructed DAZN.
Vasseur burdened that Hamilton’s preliminary feedback had been made underneath the stress of the second.
“The encounter with the tv cameras 5 minutes after the race, while you’ve had a nasty day, could be very robust,” he mentioned. “I perceive the adrenaline, the emotion, and that somebody may make a harsh remark at this level within the weekend.”
He mentioned he prefers sincere reactions to scripted positivity.
“I favor drivers to be frank on the finish of the race once we haven’t carried out an ideal job,” Vasseur mentioned. “As an alternative of somebody occurring TV saying, ‘The workforce is ideal, the automotive is nice, blah, blah, blah.’”
The Ferrari chief insisted the weekend was not as catastrophic because the headline outcome implied.
“Hamilton had good tempo within the first two observe periods,” he famous. “He dropped off in qualifying, however the scenario wasn’t as dramatic because it appeared.”
Ferrari’s drivers, together with Leclerc who referred to as qualifying “embarrassing”, made their frustration clear in Las Vegas, and Vasseur conceded: “We should always relax.”
