Schumacher to Hamilton: Be More Discreet with Ferrari Feedback

Ralf Schumacher has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton's approach at Ferrari, advising the seven-time champion to be more discreet after he publicly shared technical dossiers with the team's leadership. While Schumacher acknowledged the practice of providing feedback is normal, he suggested Hamilton's public handling of the documents could have been managed better, adding to the scrutiny of the driver's debut season with the Scuderia.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's performance at Ferrari hinges on more than just the car's speed; it relies on seamless integration into the team's culture and operations. Publicly critiquing the team, even with constructive intent, can create friction. Schumacher's comments underscore the delicate balance a new driver must strike, especially a seven-time world champion joining a team as historically significant and politically complex as Ferrari.

The details:

• Schumacher stated that while drivers sharing technical insights is common, Hamilton "should have been a bit less public about it."
• The former F1 driver pointed to a potential communication issue between Hamilton and his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, stating, "They just don't get along. That’s a huge disadvantage."
• This isn't the first time Hamilton's proactive feedback has been noted; former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene also recently criticized the move.
• Schumacher's comments add to his previous concerns about Hamilton's adaptability to the 2026 regulations, predicting the driver could struggle due to his dislike for "technical tinkering."

What's next:

As Ferrari and Hamilton look toward the 2026 season, resolving these internal communication dynamics will be paramount. The team's ability to effectively integrate Hamilton's vast experience and foster a strong driver-engineer relationship could be the deciding factor in whether they can genuinely challenge for championships. All eyes will be on Maranello to see if these off-track hurdles are cleared ahead of the new era.