After qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was visibly distraught, calling himself useless and even suggesting that Ferrari could do better to replace him. However, former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that the seven-time world champion is not giving up so easily, but rather, with these statements, he is sending a clear message to Ferrari.
Following his twelfth-place qualification for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion was visibly upset while speaking to the press. “I’m just useless. They should just replace their driver,” he told Sky Sports.
Hamilton is still waiting for his first podium finish for Scuderia. Although he finished fourth three times this season and even secured Ferrari’s very first Sprint victory in China, it feels like a drop in the ocean given the sky-high expectations of his debut year.
Clear Message
Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya interprets these statements not as a breakdown, but as a clear message from the Brit. “It’s a way of letting Ferrari know: if you’re not going to listen to me, you might as well take me out and let me go,” the Colombian said in a conversation with CoinPoker. “The big problem here is that Lewis is not getting the attention he wants, and they’re not listening to him enough for what he wants and advocates for.”
Montoya sees that Hamilton is trying to steer a new course within Ferrari. According to the seven-time Grand Prix winner, the Brit needs more support to truly make a difference at the Italian racing team. “But Lewis says: ‘You can’t win your way!’ I think there’s an internal struggle with people who think Ferrari should listen to Lewis and that ‘we need to change our way of working’. That’s very, very difficult,” Montoya continues, “because there’s a lot of tradition at Ferrari and a lot of politics. And I think Lewis is used to Mercedes’ approach: ‘What do we need to do to win?’ It’s not about politics; it’s about results at Mercedes.”
