Ferrari 'screwed' as ex-F1 driver brutally questions Lewis Hamilton move for two reasons

Former Virgin Racing F1 driver Lucas di Grassi believes that Lewis Hamilton is ‘too expensive’ and ‘no longer in his prime’, criticising Ferrari’s decision to bring the seven-time world

champion on board.

When Hamilton penned his Ferrari contract in February 2024, his immense 2023 campaign was fresh in the memory. The Brit was the highest-finishing non-Red Bull racer in the Drivers’

Championship standings last year despite not recording a Grand Prix victory.

However, while the 2024 campaign has produced two race wins and some memorable comeback drives, concerns have emerged about the Brit’s consistency and qualifying performances. He qualified

ahead of Russell just five times in 24 Grands Prix, often leaving himself with mountains to climb on race day.

According to Di Grassi, Ferrari made a mistake in signing Hamilton. “I never would hire Hamilton for Ferrari if I were to get screwed,” he told Motorsport.com Brazil. “Firstly, it is

expensive, it is very expensive, and I think he is no longer in his prime. I would hire another driver who will reach the prime within Ferrari at the right time.”

In terms of younger alternatives, departing driver Carlos Sainz did a stellar job for Ferrari in 2024 and even throughout his entire stint in Maranello. Oliver Bearman could also be a future

star for the Scuderia, but his F1 career is still in its infancy.

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While Di Grassi has concerns about Hamilton’s ability to deliver at Ferrari next season, team principal Fred Vasseur is not worried. “He is in a complicated situation at the end of a long

partnership, there is also some frustration,” he said in Abu Dhabi. “Lewis knew it was not going to be an easy season.”

Even Sainz understands Ferrari’s reasoning to bring the legendary Brit on board. In a classy interview on the Beyond The Grid podcast, the Spaniard gave his honest reaction to being replaced

in spite of his strong performances for the Prancing Horse.

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“I understood it almost right from the beginning,” he said. “I think if it would have been someone else, I would have taken a lot more longer to understand. But when you understand Lewis

Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and one of the best – if not the best in history – is going to replace you as Ferrari.

“And Lewis has decided to do his last part of his career in Ferrari, and that you need to be one of the two drivers sacrificed for that to happen – I understand. I also understand that it

was never going to be Charles. Charles has been the project of Ferrari ever since he has been a junior driver - he’s been the centre of the project probably for many years.”

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