Jeremy Clarkson Ridicules Hamilton’s First Week at Ferrari in Controversial Rant
Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, known for his outspoken opinions and love of Formula 1, has taken aim at seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in a controversial column. Writing for The Sun, Clarkson criticized Hamilton’s highly publicized first week at Ferrari, suggesting the driver’s priorities were misplaced as he transitions to his new team.
Hamilton, who recently left Mercedes after 11 successful years, made headlines last week when he officially joined Ferrari. The British racing star visited the team’s headquarters in Maranello on Monday, where he met engineers, toured the factory, and posed for photos with fans. He also tested Ferrari’s 2023 car at the Fiorano circuit on Wednesday, drawing a crowd of over 2,000 fans who gathered to watch him in action.
However, Clarkson, never one to hold back, slammed Hamilton’s approach, accusing him of focusing more on PR and social media than on his championship aspirations. In his column, Clarkson speculated on Hamilton’s motives for joining Ferrari, saying the move was likely fueled by a desire to secure a record-breaking eighth world title. He acknowledged rumors that Ferrari’s 2024 car could be exceptionally fast, possibly giving Hamilton the edge he needs to surpass Michael Schumacher’s record.
“It could be argued that Lewis Hamilton wants a record-breaking eighth world championship before he retires and moved to Ferrari because he reckons that this year they will have the fastest car,” Clarkson wrote. “Early indications on the rumor mill suggest it’s very fast indeed.”
Despite this, Clarkson was unimpressed with how Hamilton spent his first days at Maranello. “If he’s so keen on that eighth world title, you’d imagine that he’d have arrived at the factory on day one, eager to dive into the car’s secrets and figure out how to extract the most from its vast arsenal of racing trickery,” Clarkson said.
Instead, Clarkson mocked Hamilton for arriving in an SUV wearing a suit and tie, posing for staged photos, and spending time interacting with fans. He also criticized a video drone capturing Hamilton’s every move, describing it as a “carefully orchestrated spectacle.”
“Next, there was a tour of the team’s headquarters where, in slow motion, we saw the fawning engineers and the applause,” Clarkson added sarcastically, accusing Hamilton of focusing too much on the optics rather than preparing for the season.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has been one of the most talked-about stories in recent F1 history, with fans and pundits alike eager to see if the switch will lead to his long-anticipated eighth title. While Clarkson’s remarks are bound to spark debate, Hamilton remains focused on building his relationship with Ferrari and adapting to the team’s philosophy ahead of the new season.
For now, the F1 community will have to wait to see if Clarkson’s doubts are unfounded or if Hamilton’s journey with Ferrari will indeed be as successful as fans hope.
