Lewis Hamilton. Photo: Race Pictures

Hamilton’s age triggers ‘worry’ claim: 'Leclerc has destroyed him'

20:49, 15 Nov

byNorberto Mujica

Ferrari’s outlook into the future, if they are indeed building their F1 project around Lewis Hamilton, worry Davide Valsecchi, former GP2 champion turned F1 pundit, as he believes the Briton has been ‘destroyed’ by Charles Leclerc in every sense this season.

“In sporting terms, he destroyed him in qualifying and in the race, and his teammate has won seven world championships."

- Davide Valsecchi.

Photo: RacePictures

Hamilton has endured a tough first season with Ferrari, and despite his recent uptick in form, he still remains behind teammate Leclerc in qualifying, in the races and in the Standings. According to the Italian analyst, Leclerc stands as the only certainty Ferrari have within their fold.

“I’m a bit worried,” Valsecchi admitted regarding Ferrari with an outlook into the team’s future in a Fanpage.it interview.

“It seems to me that the only really positive thing about Ferrari this year is Leclerc. I always thought that he lacked consistency to be at the top, but today the only thing that is rock solid is him, almost always ahead of his teammate.

“In sporting terms, he destroyed him in qualifying and in the race, and his teammate has won seven world championships.

“The only solid thing about the project is the young driver they have.”

Lewis Hamilton's performances in red have largely dissapointed. Photo: Race Pictures

The reported high sums Ferrari invested in Hamilton could also be a marker of a medium to long-term agreement between the team and the British driver, which Valsecchi concedes is his focal point of worry.

“That’s exactly what worries me,” Valsecchi stated.

“Hamilton spent three years with [George] Russell at Mercedes. Twice out of three times, he lost the comparison. If you’re talking about the short term, I agree, but if you’re talking about the medium to long term with a 40-year-old driver, I have my doubts.

“He comes to Ferrari, he’s a year older, and he’s been destroyed by Leclerc. If you say to me, ‘Next year we’re betting on Hamilton,’ I say, ‘Think again,'” the Italian concluded.

Poll

Villeneuve thinks Ferrari's controversy is Elkann's doing

Jacques Villeneuve criticised Elkann’s recent comments about Hamilton and Leclerc, calling them “shocking” and emblematic of a longstanding Ferrari pattern where the team prioritizes itself over drivers.

He cited past fallouts with Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel, describing Ferrari as a difficult environment, especially for drivers with strong characters. Read the ex-F1 champion's comments here.

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