Hamilton beyond saving? Schumacher asks the Brit the toughest question yet!

Ralf Schumacher, former F1 driver and six-time Grand Prix winner, has issued a verdict regarding Lewis Hamilton, whilst at the same time sharing a hopeful wish for the Brit.

Ferrari can't give Hamilton what he needs

Speaking at Sky Sports Germany podcast Backstage Boxengasse, Schumacher stated that what Hamilton needs, is precisely something he'd earned at former employer Mercedes. Something which Ferrari can't provide.

"The older you get, the more set in your ways you become," he adds, before clarifying: "I need a certain car, a certain style of car, to drive fast."

The dangers to this are the slippery slope that age presents for drivers at a certain point in the late stages of their careers

"And I can't commit to what I have anymore. And then I try to tinker around. And that's the point every racing driver gets to."

Schumacher then admitted to feeling that exact same way when reaching the twilight of his own racing career.

"Then the only question is how far Lewis has come today."

Ferrari 'bet on the past'

Schumacher then brought the idea of signing Hamilton into question, stating Ferrari should've bet on the future.

"If I were team boss, I would rather put a young man in the car with potential for the future, someone I can also shape, someone who is still moldable."

Schumacher is of the idea that young drivers are now more likely to establish themselves in F1, and the current crop of F1 rookies proves as much.

"Bearman is doing a great job. Hadjar is doing a great job. Kimi [Antonelli], when it's right, is also doing a very good job. And of course Bortoleto."

Schumacher asks Hamilton the toughest question 

But for someone of Hamilton's age, for whom the vast majority of his career is now at his back, the German then asks the hardest question: "How much longer can he do this? How much longer will he keep doing this?"

For Schumacher, though, there may yet be hope for Hamilton, whose speed is ever present, even in his 40's.

"[I hope he will] somehow find a way forward with Ferrari after the summer break, because he still has the speed.

"He's just not able to show it often enough at the moment," the current analyst explained.

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