Ferrari given Lewis Hamilton ‘lack of trust’ warning in Vettel com…read more
Ferrari is at risk of losing Lewis Hamilton’s trust due to a series of mistakes, according to former race strategist and current Sky F1 analyst, Bernie Collins. These errors, including the disqualification of Hamilton in China and strategy issues in Melbourne, are starting to affect the confidence drivers have in the team. Collins, who has experience in building trust with drivers during her time as Aston Martin’s strategist, warned that repeated mistakes could make a driver doubt the team’s competence and judgment.
Hamilton’s disqualification in China came after his skid block was found to be excessively worn, while a strategy error in Melbourne also marred his performance. Collins pointed out that such mistakes accumulate and create uncertainty, which can have lasting effects on a driver’s trust in the team. She reflected on her own experience with Sebastian Vettel when he joined Aston Martin, emphasizing the importance of a driver believing in the team’s ability to make good decisions. She wanted Vettel to feel confident that if she called him into the pits, he would follow the instruction because he trusted the team’s strategy.
Similarly, Hamilton’s current struggles with Ferrari are exacerbated by both technical and strategic issues. The car’s performance and legality have been under scrutiny, with Hamilton expressing frustration after struggling with the setup changes and finding himself much slower than expected in the race. On top of that, the car’s legality was questioned due to issues with the weight and plank wear, which led to his disqualification. While Hamilton might be able to move past these challenges quickly if the problems are addressed, Collins warned that each issue adds to the erosion of trust between Hamilton and the team.
The next step for Ferrari is to ensure that their car is fully compliant with regulations for the upcoming race in Japan. Collins pointed out that it is the responsibility of the race engineer to ensure the legality of the car. In this case, it is crucial that Ferrari’s engineers identify why the car failed to meet the required standards regarding weight and plank wear. While it is known that Hamilton’s car was legal in terms of weight—since all cars are checked for this—Leclerc’s car was not checked for plank wear, so it remains unclear whether his car complied with this regulation.
As Ferrari prepares for the next race, the team faces the challenge of rebuilding Hamilton’s trust and ensuring that they can deliver consistent, reliable performance on track. Collins’ insights serve as a cautionary tale for the Scuderia, urging them to address both the technical and strategic shortcomings that have plagued their season so far. Without regaining trust, they risk further alienating one of the sport’s most successful
drivers.
