Lewis Hamilton is having a torrid first season with Ferrari in 2025, which has generated criticism from the team’s chairman, John Elkann.
The seven-time champion is yet to score a podium as a Ferrari driver, excluding Sprint races. He claimed victory in the Sprint in China and finished third in Miami, but he is at risk of going without a Grand Prix podium in a season for the first time in his career.
Hamilton has not adapted to the SF-25 and has constantly complained about the car, its upgrades and Ferrari’s operations. He has been sending private documents to the team behind the scenes, but it has done little to improve his fortunes.
The Brit qualified last at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but he managed to fight up into the points and finish 10th in the race. However, it was not the response to Elkann’s criticism that he would have hoped for.
Lewis Hamilton told to be more constructive to the media after John Elkann comments
Elkann told Hamilton and Leclerc to focus more on driving and talk less after they have constantly expressed their frustration to the media about their poor season. The former continued that in Las Vegas, stating that 2025 has been his ‘worst season’.
But former F1 driver Christijan Albers agrees with Elkann’s comments about Hamilton. Speaking on the De Telegraaf podcast, he thinks that the 40-year-old needs to be more constructive with his criticisms to the media.
“I did think that John Elkann was right in his statement, that those guys should focus on racing and all that kind of stuff for once,” said Albers.
“I agree with him and I’ll tell you why I agree with him. And that doesn’t even mean that he might think that way, but I think that way. I think,when you get to that square, at that pen where those guys all have to do an interview, I think you have to give those journalists something to work with.
“And I think that lately it’s been very easy to say: ‘Yes, we’re just not fast enough’. Yes, that’s competition. I mean, we have that everywhere, of course. everywhere.
“You can have that with football too: ‘Yes, we lost. Yes, we’re not good enough. Yes, because we don’t have the best players in the world. We don’t have Ronaldo, Messi, I don’t know what else is in there’. I mean, I expect something else.”
READ MORE: George Russell defends Lewis Hamilton as Ferrari drought reaches historic low
Lewis Hamilton will be banking on 2026 for Ferrari to provide a competitive car
Hamilton’s issues at Ferrari are nothing new. He has struggled to perform ever since the change of the regulations in 2022 during his Mercedes days.
The ground-effect cars have not suited his driving style, with the 2026 regulations presenting a fresh start for both Hamilton and Ferrari. The team hopes that they can build a competitive car to take them to their first title since 2008.
It may be Hamilton’s last chance to win his eighth title, as reports have suggested that Ferrari will not offer him a new contract. If his results do not improve, the 40-year-old may decide to call time on his career.
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