Max Verstappen has addressed the struggles that Lewis Hamilton has endured in his first Formula 1 season with Ferrari, saying it was “never going to be easy” for his former rival.
Hamilton’s maiden campaign with the Scuderia has been a difficult one, having found the team’s SF-25 a tough challenger to tackle.
The seven-time World Champion’s only significant highlight has been his Sprint Race victory in Shanghai, having failed to make the podium in a full Grand Prix.
Team-mate Charles Leclerc has also struggled but has managed to secure four top-three finishes and a pole position.
Hamilton’s lowest ebb came at Hungary, when he branded himself “useless,” and stated the team should “change driver,” having failed to make Q3 when Leclerc took top spot.
Prior to taking his third win of the season in Italy, Verstappen was asked about his 2021 title rival’s first year so far at Maranello, admitting the complexity of the car might not be a true reflection of Hamilton’s own current form.
“I cannot look into how he [Hamilton] was operating at Mercedes, how he feels personally, what is going on also in the [Ferrari] team right now,” he said. “I don’t have any information on that
“The thing is, he joined a team that already has a very strong driver with Charles [Leclerc], so it’s never going to be easy to immediately go in there and start beating your team-mate who is well integrated, knows the team very well, speaks the language.
“But these cars can be quite complicated at times to fully understand why you’re quick or not, basically.”
Why Verstappen would not let emotions rule any potential Ferrari drive
Hamilton appeared in a brighter mood at Monza, having secured sixth place after a fine drive, starting 10th after serving a grid penalty.
He was also treated to his first real taste of partisan support, having appeared before a crowd of gathering tifosi in Milan a few days before.
Verstappen acknowledged that there is a great deal of emotional attraction with being a Ferrari driver, but said he would not choose to ever drive for the team, if offered, for just that reason.
“I think Ferrari is a massive brand,” he said. “All the drivers, they see and they picture themselves there, ‘I would like to drive for Ferrari.’
“But I think that’s also where the mistake comes, just to drive for Ferrari.
“If I would ever want to go there, I don’t go there just to drive for Ferrari, I go there because I see the opportunity to win.
“And if you win with Ferrari, that’s even better. And that’s I think where you shouldn’t let yourself get guided just because of the emotions and passion of a brand, you need to go there because you feel that is the right place to go.”
READ MORE – Max Verstappen details ‘what I like’ about Kimi Antonelli amid F1 struggles with Mercedes
Discussion about this post