Lewis Hamilton is enduring his most difficult period in Formula 1 this year, as his move to Scuderia Ferrari has not gone as planned. The seven-time world champion’s transition to the iconic Italian team has been marred by significant performance issues, leading Hamilton to make candid and discouraging remarks about his own contributions and the team’s prospects.
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, Hamilton described himself as “absolutely useless” to Ferrari and even suggested that the team might be better off replacing him altogether. This blunt self-assessment ignited debate within the Formula 1 community, with some figures such as former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone considering it a sign that Hamilton might be ready to retire. However, Guenther Steiner, the ex-Haas team principal, publicly challenged this narrative.
Guenther Steiner Criticizes Hamilton’s Negative Self-Comments
Guenther Steiner expressed surprise and disappointment upon hearing Lewis Hamilton label himself as “useless.” Steiner emphasized that a driver of Hamilton’s stature—a seven-time world champion—should not underestimate himself, regardless of current difficulties. He noted that everyone experiences periods of struggle and that Hamilton was simply going through a rough phase.
How can you come out as being seven-time world champion saying, I’m useless? That was, it’s not his performance. I do not care about that. I’m not going into his performance. He’s struggling. At some stage in our life, we all struggle a little bit.
—Guenther Steiner said on the Red Flags podcast
Steiner further argued that adopting such a defeatist attitude by claiming to be “useless” was inappropriate for someone of Hamilton’s caliber. He warned that this kind of mindset appeared as if Hamilton was ready to give up and hoped for sympathy, which Steiner found unexpected from a driven champion like Hamilton.
I still struggle, so I always struggle, but coming out and saying, oh, I’m useless. That’s the wrong attitude. And that is for me. I don’t like attitude of giving up, you know, or it’s an attitude that people should feel sorry for you.
—Guenther Steiner added
Advice to Hamilton: Concentrate on Driving and Racecraft
Lewis Hamilton has openly acknowledged challenges within Ferrari, admitting that improvements are necessary at the Maranello-based outfit. He also asserted that he would not fail in a similar way to former Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel. In fact, Hamilton reportedly prepared detailed documents aimed at helping engineers diagnose and address car problems.
Despite these efforts, Steiner recalled how recently Hamilton was actively engaging with Ferrari’s engineering team to solve issues. Steiner suggested that Hamilton should focus on his strength—driving—rather than undermining himself with negative comments.
A few weeks ago, [Hamilton was] sitting down the engineers telling them what to do and now you’re coming back and saying, I’m useless. It’s just focus on what you’re good at, which is driving a race car, because he’s good. He’s a seven-time world champion.
—Guenther Steiner added
The Impact on Hamilton’s Confidence and the Season Ahead
Lewis Hamilton’s initial vision of restoring Ferrari’s dominance appears to be unraveling, deeply affecting his confidence and morale. The British driver’s blunt admission of struggle reflects the immense pressure he is facing as expectations clash with current results. These comments have sparked concern about his mental state amid the ongoing difficulties at Ferrari.
Nonetheless, the Formula 1 calendar includes a summer break that may provide Hamilton with an opportunity to regroup, recharge, and regain focus by spending time with family and close friends. This pause could prove essential for the 40-year-old to regain his competitive edge and address the issues that continue to hold Ferrari back.
While the Ferrari team battles ongoing setbacks, Hamilton’s experience and perseverance remain crucial, especially as the sport’s future progresses and Scuderia works to close the gap on rivals. How Hamilton rebounds from this challenging mid-season spell could shape not only his legacy but also Ferrari’s trajectory in the 2024 campaign and beyond.
