Lewis Hamilton wants to make sure that he is leaving one day better the Formula Ferrari team that he found it.
This is why he told journalists on Thursday before the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend that he gave comments to the leaders of Ferrari on everything, to improve the car to strengthen the operation of the organization in the hope of postponing the team at the top of the ranking.
Ferrari has won the title of the pilots – Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 for almost 20 years – and the title of the manufacturers, taking her in 2008.
And seven times Hamilton champion said it was time for the organization of 75 years to reach its potential.
“If you look at the team, in the past 20 years, they have had incredible drivers,” said Hamilton, quoting the former world champions Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. But none had a championship season for part of the Ferrari garage.
“I refuse that this is the case with me,” said Hamilton, 40, who previously ran with McLaren and Mercedes before joining Ferrari in January.
Hamilton has not yet reached a podium with Ferrari and stands sixth in the pilot ranking. He said he had met Ferrari officials and also sent them memos to describe the changes that must be made at all levels. It starts with his car.
“It is a huge organization, and there are a lot of mobile pieces, and not all shoot all the cylinders that must be,” he said. “This is ultimately why the team did not have the success that I think it deserves. So, I think it is my job to challenge all areas absolutely, to challenge everyone in the team, in particular the guys who are at the top that make the decisions.”
Hamilton said Ferrari had been “incredibly reactive” to his comments and that he is starting to see the necessary improvements in the organization.
“Take the same path all the time, you get the same results. So I simply dispute certain things.”
Hamilton knows that he has only races in his career and wants to be part of a winner.
“It’s time for the crisis,” he said. “I really believe in the potential of this team. I really believe, really that they can win several world championships in the future. They already have an incredible inheritance, but during my time, that’s my only goal.”
Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc, who is fifth in the pilot ranking, have ferrari in second place in the manufacturers’ classification – but far behind the leader – before Sunday race at the Spa -Francorchamps circuit. Behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who are fighting for the individual title, McLaren has 460 points at 222 for Ferrari.
– field level media
