Lewis Hamilton's increasingly turbulent relationship with Ferrari has drawn another stinging assessment, this time from former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, who believes the seven-time world champion crossed a line in Mexico City with his public criticism of Charles Leclerc and of the Scuderia.
Schumacher has branded Hamilton's demand for Ferrari to hold "serious talks" following his opening-lap confrontation with his teammate at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as "unacceptable", accusing the Briton of behaving as though he were bigger than the team itself.
The flashpoint came when Leclerc cut a chicane while battling Hamilton wheel-to-wheel on the opening lap in Mexico. The manoeuvre allowed the Monegasque to get significantly ahead of his team-mate, while Hamilton subsequently surrendered second place to Max Verstappen.
Leclerc eventually finished fourth after receiving a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Hamilton was particularly unhappy with the incident and Leclerc’s aggressive driving, making his feelings known over Ferrari's team radio during a red-flag interruption.
"We’ve got problems. Big, big problems," he warned, before later suggesting that the team needed serious discussions behind closed doors.
For Schumacher, however, the real problem was not the initial wheel-to-wheel confrontation but Hamilton's reaction afterwards.
Schumacher's ‘Al Capone’ jibe
Speaking on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, the German acknowledged that Leclerc's decision to go off the circuit was understandable in the heat of battle, but took particular exception to Hamilton publicly demanding action against his own team-mate.
"Lewis Hamilton accepted that if Charles Leclerc didn't drive over the grass, there would be a crash,” he said. “That's intentional.
“But I have no problem with that, because it's a racing situation where nobody wants to give up their position. My problem is with the drama that followed.
“Demanding a penalty for your teammate over the radio is unacceptable. Then to speak like Al Capone and threaten that 'we have big, big problems' in my view, that's just the dog walking its master.
“He’s putting himself above the Ferrari brand. He’s acting more like a team boss than a driver.”
The comparison with the notorious American gangster was particularly cutting, with Schumacher suggesting Hamilton's approach had become unnecessarily confrontational and that his individual grievances were overshadowing the interests of the organisation.
Vasseur urged to take control
Schumacher also directed his criticism towards Ferrari's management, insisting that team principal Fred Vasseur must intervene before the increasingly uncomfortable relationship between his two drivers causes further damage.
“I'd put both drivers in a sack, give them a piece of my mind, and explain to them how things are supposed to work at Ferrari. This can't go on. Both drivers ruined each other's race in that situation. Ferrari should have won in Mexico,” he continued.
The former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver believes neither Hamilton nor Leclerc is showing sufficient willingness to put the team's collective interests ahead of personal ambition.
"Lewis needs to ask himself what he actually wants. Is it just about him, or is it about the success of the entire team? Sometimes you get the feeling that everything revolves around him,” Schumacher said.
“The rivalry between Hamilton and Leclerc has gone a bit too far in recent races. It can't be that Ferrari suffers because both drivers are so stubborn."
Read also: Hamilton hits out at Leclerc's 'do or die' mentalityFor Ferrari, the Mexico episode was another reminder that having two highly ambitious drivers under the same roof can become a considerable headache.
And with Schumacher now openly questioning Hamilton's attitude and calling for Vasseur to restore order, the pressure on the Scuderia's management is mounting.
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Schumacher slams Hamilton's 'Al Capone' act at Ferrari F1i.com.
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