Ralf Schumacher Criticizes Hamilton's 'Sit By and Do Nothing' Approach at Ferrari

Ralf Schumacher has controversially claimed Lewis Hamilton has a tendency to “sit by and do nothing” amidst a challenging inaugural season with Ferrari. This assessment clashes with Hamilton's own statements about actively trying to improve the team's performance, raising questions about the true nature of his contributions in a difficult year for the Scuderia.

Why it matters:

Ralf Schumacher's critique of Lewis Hamilton's engagement at Ferrari, particularly his 'sit by and do nothing' accusation, directly contradicts Hamilton's public narrative of intense involvement in the team's technical development. This creates a fascinating divergence in opinion regarding how one of F1's most decorated drivers is adapting to a new team during a performance slump, and what role a driver truly plays beyond the cockpit in a championship bid.

The Details:

• Schumacher's Stance: Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf Schumacher, speaking on Sky Deutschland, stated that Hamilton's "performance is not good" and accused him of having "a tendency to sit by and do nothing this year." He added, "I believe Ferrari expected more from it [Hamilton's impact]."
• Hamilton's Counter-Narrative: Hamilton has consistently maintained an active role in trying to improve Ferrari. He revealed sending "documents" and "notes" to the team after races, focusing on areas for improvement. He emphasized his job is "to challenge absolutely every area" to bring title-winning ways back to Ferrari, citing examples of past champions who struggled to achieve that with the team.
• Ferrari's Season: F1 2025 has been challenging for Ferrari, with no Grand Prix wins and Hamilton yet to secure a podium finish as a Ferrari driver. This performance has been acknowledged by Hamilton himself, who admitted earlier in the season he was "not doing a good enough job."
• Elkann's 'Warning': Schumacher interpreted Ferrari chairman John Elkann's post-Brazil statement – ordering both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to "focus on driving, talk less" – as a direct "warning to Hamilton."
• Specific Examples of Hamilton's Efforts: After a disappointing Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton highlighted having "so many notes in terms of things we need to improve on." He expressed optimism that the team could "fix those if we just put those into action."

Between the lines:

While Hamilton's on-track performance in his first Ferrari season has clearly not met expectations, Schumacher's assertion that he's 'sitting by and doing nothing' seems to overlook the significant efforts Hamilton claims to be making behind the scenes. Hamilton’s history suggests a deeply analytical and hands-on approach to car development, making the 'do nothing' label a sharp, and perhaps unfair, rebuke. The reality likely lies somewhere in between: a driver struggling for pace but actively trying to influence change, facing the immense challenge of a team in transition.

What's next:

With the season progressing, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari and Hamilton can translate his reported off-track efforts into tangible on-track improvements. The dynamic between Hamilton's internal advocacy and external criticism highlights the pressure on both driver and team to find solutions and avoid a truly stagnant debut season. The forthcoming races will be crucial in demonstrating if Hamilton's "notes" and "documents" can indeed spur the progress he envisions for the Scuderia.