AM I wrong to have hopes for Lewis?

Oh, I see. He was trying to say that Lewis Hamilton has beaten every one of his teammates over the course of one season.

Well, that’s enough analyzing dumb and irrelevant points for one day. Time to return to the present instead of living in the past.

Leclerc will continue to Vettelize Hamilton.

 

Vettelize Hamilton....good one.

 

Hamilton is fulfilling his career ending dream to drive for SF, and making an insane amount of money, whilst Ferrari is cashing in tons of money selling merchandise.
Its a win win for all parties.
The only loss is really the Formula 1 Team being used to as a cash making machine, and not to re-establish Ferrari's prowess as a Scuderia.

 

Ferrari built another dog of a car. And the team leadership is also proving to be a dog for the simple reason that they aren't fixing the problems. Sprint race or no, the entire Miami weekend should be about doing and trying everything they can to get the car to work, not waiting for a more traditional weekend. Leclerc is Vasseur's lap dog. Hamilton is Elkann's answer to Liz Taylor. Leclerc has had more than enough time at Ferrari to show he's better than the cars. He has shown flashes of speed, but Sainz on the average was just as fast and showed the greater work ethic. If Enzo were alive he would have kept Sainz, and replaced Leclerc with Bearman or Antonelli. Enzo wouldn't have let Hamilton kiss his ring. Hamilton WAS great, but that time has come and gone.

 

I find it interesting that Ferrari decided to renew/redesign the car so in-depth. The car is not evolutionary but more new in focus. Seemed faster and had a larger operating window last year later in the season. No one knows what Enzo would do and it hardly matters in this series now. What matters is they fix what they can to be more competitive before they stop and focus on the next car for 2026. Im not expecting much overall as this season fades more quickly in importance vs next year.

 

I see that Lewis has cancelled his plans and decided to spend the time between Saudi and Miami in Maranello to try to help out with the issues and get to grips with the car. Doesn't sound like he's 'checked out', or sees this year as a partial retirement. There is no way that Ferrari will get rid of him or he will leave. He'll at least stay till next year and see what the car is like. If another team has got the regs right and steamroll the season then he might wonder if it's worth battling. Until then I think he'll be putting all of his effort into improving this season with the hope/expectation that Ferrari are the team with the advantage in '26.

 

The only way I can see a split happen is if Ferrari has a real shot at getting Max this year and Lewis is so far of Leclerc's pace that he triggers the exit clause on Ferrari's side.

I don't think either will just give up prematurely before end of this contract otherwise.

 

I don't see that happening easily;

1.- for a start, axing Hamilton can't go without an implied assumption of Elkann's having been mistaken, something he won't be doing as any good executive will try to support any line of defense to prevent him from assuming a failure and sing a mea culpa song.

2.- The greatest driver of these years, Verstappen is a sharp guy, gifted and talented and capable of driving the undrivable to the front. Would he be a) mad enough to leave a possibly winning car so as to join a team who has a chariot on the track?. b) would he accept, regardless the money which he is not short of either, be considered a replacement to that aged Messiah from the past?

Two things I don't see easily happening.

 

Can't disagree about point 1 at all.

Point 2...I guess it depends on both Ferrari's and Red Bull's steps in the next few months, and we can't even rule out Aston Martin and Mercedes either. If Red Bull doesn't improve, I can see an offer from any of those 3 to work. Mercedes would be most likely, and Aston/Ferrari a 50/50 chance each. The big consideration in all this is the 2026 engine. Mercedes for god knows how long have gotten the new regulations bang on which plays a huge factor.

 

Bingo! You get an A SIr! You literally just repeated my post #67

 

Nevertheless, Hotshoe's compilation in post 77 clearly demonstrates an inability to communicate clearly.

 

I think you are right. The only thing would be if he starts failing to get into Q3 and or continues to slide down the grid. If that happens there would / should be some serious conversation about "Lewis, this is not working for either of us". question is who would you bring in? Bearman? that could be equally bad, putting a young kid in a bad car, and have him not perform? Meanwhile they have to keep Leclerc happy and focused too.

 

I don't think they could care any less about keeping Leclerc happy.

 

There is clearly very poor chemistry between Sir Loulou and his engineer.

Also he has zero experience of dealing with a non English engineer, the way he speaks is full on Brit speak whereas Adami does not master English that well so that is a serious hurdle to clear communication and progress.

Loulou does not even appear to know that you are supposed to simplify your sentences when talking to a non fluent speaker. Otherwise misunderstandings bring problems.

Add to that the fact that he is not forthcoming with a lot of feedback contrary to Antonelli at Merc for example who is very articulate, keen to discuss every detail -in a language which is not his own- and you have a serious problem.

Oh and he did not cancel all his nonsense engagements, today he was at some bs shop inauguration in London...no comment.

 

Regardless a potential interest of

The incapacity to communicate in an effective manner with his engineer and the absence of value in what he poorly communicates... those are behavioral traits of the unsmart, if that's what you are implying, is it?

 

No.

What I mean is that he is not very worldly, not very good at dealing with other cultures. Case in point he has lived in Monaco for years...has anyone ever heard him say one word in French? Nope and I read French Motorsport media as well daily and no journalist ever mentioned him saying anything in French...so his Italian is no doubt just as non existent.

 

Confirmed

 

I was speaking in the esoteric.

 

As was I. I was implying that Hamilton’s signing and the surrounding fanfare already demonstrated that they are indifferent to their number one driver.

 

Super valid stuff, but I was referring to a particular troll/member’s inability to communicate.

 

Honestly, I’m looking forward to seeing Ferrari put someone else in Hamilton’s seat. The signing always felt like a long-shot gamble—hoping a six-time Mercedes car—sorry, driver—could somehow fix the car’s problems.

It clearly isn't working out...

 

Not a LH fan or any other driver come to that but I have every reason to be optimistic and feel that once he gets used to the characteristics of the car then he will be right up there with Leclerc, by round 10 he should have got to grips with it or the team as made the right adjustments to suit his style. 3-4 tenths isnt that much after 6 races and one sprint which he won!

 

Open testing would have cleared this all up months ago...in Januaary before the season began. The simulators, even at their highest state, continually prove that they give little to no valid information. How idiotic to spend half the season trying to get Hamilton up to speed...all his issues should have been worked out by the first race.

 

I’m not sure who may have had such hopes. But I doubt Ferrari management or the team did.

 

Yes you are wrong to have hopes for Lewee, if they regard F1. However, if they regard him in new red PlaySkool clothes pushing the latest hideous street cars, enjoy.