Michael Schumacher brother Ralf Schumacher launched fresh attack on Hamilton over…read more
Ralf Schumacher Criticizes Lewis Hamilton’s Leadership and Car Development Skills
Ralf Schumacher has expressed doubts about Lewis Hamilton’s ability to lead a team and contribute to car development, comparing him unfavorably to his brother, Michael Schumacher, especially regarding their time at Ferrari. Ralf, a former Formula 1 driver, claims that Hamilton may struggle to replicate Michael’s success at Ferrari, where his brother helped the team dominate in the early 2000s.
Hamilton, who is the most successful driver in F1 history with seven World Championships and over 100 race wins, is set to join Ferrari in 2025. Despite his impressive career, Ralf believes Hamilton lacks the same qualities that made Michael Schumacher so effective at Ferrari. Michael was known for his exceptional ability to influence car development and provide engineers with clear, actionable feedback. His close collaboration with team principal Jean Todt and technical director Ross Brawn helped create cars tailored to his driving style, propelling Ferrari to unprecedented success.
In contrast, Ralf argues that Hamilton has not demonstrated a similar level of involvement in car development. He referenced Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s emphasis on drivers focusing on driving while engineers manage car development, suggesting that Hamilton may not be as hands-on as his peers in this aspect. Ralf believes that while Hamilton excels on the track, his influence over the development of the car has been limited compared to the way Michael shaped Ferrari’s dominance.
Ralf also raised concerns about the challenges Hamilton will face at Ferrari. Unlike Michael, who joined the Italian team as a current world champion and in the prime of his career, Hamilton will enter an already established team with Charles Leclerc as its leader. This dynamic, according to Ralf, will make Hamilton’s task more difficult as he will need to adapt to an unfamiliar environment while facing a team that already has its own hierarchy.
In the past, Ralf has been critical of Hamilton, stating that he does not view him as one of the “exceptional world champions” capable of making a significant difference on track. He has compared Hamilton to Sebastian Vettel, suggesting both drivers require a “perfect” car to perform at their best. Ralf praised Max Verstappen for his ability to thrive under challenging circumstances, pointing out that Verstappen’s success in 2024 despite difficulties within Red Bull showcased his ability to make a difference, a quality Ralf believes Hamilton lacks.
