Lewis Hamilton, who joined Ferrari with high hopes of winning the drivers’ championship in his debut season, is currently going through a difficult time. According to George Russell, Hamilton’s former teammate, the seven-time World Champion’s relentless pursuit of perfection and an all-or-nothing attitude may be hurting Ferrari’s chances more than helping them.

Despite Hamilton’s best efforts to resolve Ferrari’s ongoing problems and secure race victories, the team’s inconsistent strategy and underwhelming car performance have kept him from reaching the podium consistently. Hamilton, long recognized as one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers, finds anything less than victory unacceptable, which, according to Russell, places excessive pressure on both himself and the team.

George Russell Highlights the Drawbacks of Hamilton’s High Expectations at Ferrari

George Russell, who raced alongside Hamilton at Mercedes and bested him twice in three years, reflected on Hamilton’s mindset and its impact at Ferrari. He acknowledged that Hamilton views finishing second or anything other than first as failure, a perspective that pushes the entire team beyond practical limits. Russell suggested this intense drive might be counterproductive because it demands results beyond what the current Ferrari car can deliver.

“I think when you’re a seven-time World Champion, anything less than victory is failure, and you’re probably pushing yourself and your team over the top to achieve beyond the potential, to try and achieve these great results, and potentially it’s counterproductive.” —George Russell, Formula 1 Driver

Russell goes on to imply that Hamilton’s drive for ultimate success could be working against Ferrari’s gradual progress this season. The team‘s package isn’t fully competitive yet, and Hamilton’s push for top results might be creating more tension within the squad rather than fostering improvement.

Recalling Hamilton’s Best Performances During Their Years Together at Mercedes

Reflecting on Hamilton’s form during their time as teammates at Mercedes, Russell commented that Hamilton was performing at his best, describing it as his “A-game.” Despite finishing behind Russell in the final year before Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, the 27-year-old said Hamilton remained a strong rival and showed exceptional driving skill.

“So, I don’t know. For sure, what I saw last year was that when he was on his A-game, he was a real competitor to me and he was driving amazingly.” —George Russell, Formula 1 Driver

At Mercedes, Hamilton still managed several victories and was able to compete at the highest level even as the team faced increasing challenges. However, his transition to Ferrari has been far more challenging, with podiums and wins proving much harder to come by as Ferrari’s car performance lags behind rivals.

Struggles of Hamilton’s First Year at Ferrari and Russell’s Insights

Hamilton’s inaugural season at Ferrari has been marred by constant difficulties, including an underperforming SF-25 and questionable team decisions. Russell theorized that much of Hamilton’s struggle arises from trying to compensate for shortcomings in the car by pushing beyond its limits, which may not be sustainable.

This notion of “overcompensating” for the performance gap could be contributing to frustrations on both sides, as the Italian team has yet to present a car capable of consistently challenging for wins and championships.

Ferrari’s Urgent Need for Improvement Amid Speculation About Hamilton’s Future

With the championship season progressing, Ferrari faces growing pressure to enhance their car and strategic execution to remain competitive. Rumors have surfaced suggesting that Hamilton may consider an early departure if the team’s progress stalls, amplifying the urgency for a turnaround at Maranello.

For Ferrari, reviving pace and consistency is crucial not only to satisfy Hamilton’s ambitions but also to restore their standing as title contenders. How quickly and effectively the team addresses these issues will likely shape both Hamilton’s future and Ferrari’s trajectory in Formula 1.