Ralf Schumacher dampens Hamilton’s ambitions: He’s demanding something he doesn’t deserve

Following the Mexican Grand Prix, a heated debate erupted in the paddock over the current situation at Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Charles Leclerc, whom he regards as the team’s black sheep because of his selfish behaviour. According to insiders, Hamilton was also far from satisfied with the outcome of a joint meeting with Frédéric Vasseur, at which he reportedly demanded number one status. Ralf Schumacher believes he had no right to do so.

Team principal Frédéric Vasseur insisted on Friday that he knew what he was taking on and would deal with all the downsides of running two number one drivers. Such a line-up can cause problems even under much stricter management, where neither driver would even think of demanding number one status.

According to the Italian media, however, that was precisely Lewis Hamilton’s ambition when he went into Thursday’s meeting with Charles Leclerc and Frédéric Vasseur in Sao Paulo. The seven-time champion has so far failed to get his way.

“Lewis Hamilton is assuming a position within the team that he is not entitled to,” said German Sky pundit Ralf Schumacher, who believes Hamilton brought about the whole controversy. “The fact that he then goes on to emphasise once again that he will not keep quiet and always says what he thinks makes things difficult.”

If Hamilton wants to be the team’s number one, he needs to prove it on track rather than in front of a microphone. “The problem is that, compared to Charles Leclerc, he simply isn’t fast enough. If he were clearly better than his team-mate, this discussion wouldn’t even be taking place. He’s the one causing it himself,” he noted, pointing to Michael Schumacher, who was Ferrari’s clear number one.

Hamilton also earned that status at Mercedes when Valtteri Bottas was his team-mate, but at Ferrari it is not so clear-cut. In recent months, he has simply made too many entirely unnecessary mistakes: a jump start at Silverstone, a crash in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix which, by his own admission, cost him a chance of victory, impeding Oscar Piastri in Hungary, and ignoring instructions to pit for fresh tyres in Singapore and Brazil.

Schumacher has some clear advice for Hamilton on how to become the team’s number one. “It’s relatively simple: always be at the front, drive half a second faster than Charles, win every race or at least finish ahead of him. Then he can make these demands. It’s as simple as that in life.”