Ferrari Source Describes Lewis Hamilton’s Recent Message as ‘Very Worrying’ Ahead of Austrian Grand Prix
As Formula 1 heads into the high-stakes Austrian Grand Prix weekend, behind-the-scenes chatter is heating up—this time centered around Lewis Hamilton and his future team, Ferrari. A source within the Maranello-based outfit has reportedly expressed concern over Hamilton’s recent comments, labeling them as “very worrying” ahead of what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the season.
The seven-time world champion, who is set to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in 2025, made headlines following last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix—not just for his performance, but for his post-race reflections. Despite securing a respectable P4 finish, Hamilton openly questioned his team’s strategic execution.
“We’ve got to be smarter. We’re still making calls that are costing us time,” Hamilton told reporters after the race in Barcelona. “It’s not just about the car’s performance—it’s about decision-making in the moment. That’s where we’re losing out.”
While directed at Mercedes, the comment has reportedly triggered concerns within Ferrari about Hamilton’s future influence on their team dynamics. According to a Ferrari insider quoted by Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, the remarks weren’t taken lightly.
“It’s very worrying,” the unnamed source said. “When a driver starts publicly questioning his team’s decisions, it brings into question how he’ll behave under pressure at Ferrari, where the scrutiny and expectations are even higher.”
The anxiety is understandable. Ferrari’s current driver duo—Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz—have maintained a relatively stable dynamic in recent years, despite the team’s on-and-off struggles with race strategy. With Sainz set to exit at the end of 2024 to make room for Hamilton, there’s a growing sense of unease about whether the British driver’s outspoken nature and global stature could disrupt Ferrari’s carefully maintained internal balance.
Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur, however, struck a more diplomatic tone during his Tuesday media rounds.
“We know Lewis is a competitor at the highest level,” Vasseur said. “He speaks his mind, and we respect that. What matters to us is that he brings his experience, leadership, and hunger to win. We’re confident he’ll thrive in the Ferrari environment.”
Despite public reassurances, the situation adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already intense F1 narrative. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was hailed as a seismic shift in the sport, but transitions of this magnitude are rarely seamless—especially at a team as culturally complex and media-intensive as Ferrari.
Meanwhile, Hamilton remains focused on closing out his final season with Mercedes on a high note. The Silver Arrows have shown signs of resurgence, but remain inconsistent against the dominant Red Bull and resurgent McLaren teams. As the grid arrives in Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes is still fighting to assert its place among the front-runners—and Hamilton will need both car and strategy to align perfectly to do so.
What’s clear is that every word from Hamilton is now carrying more weight—not just with Mercedes, but with Ferrari, where the countdown to a new era has already begun.