Schumacher: Hamilton ‘not fast enough’ to have Ferrari n°1 status

Ralf Schumacher has once again questioned Lewis Hamilton's credentials at Ferrari, arguing that the seven-time world champion has yet to do enough on track to justify being treated as the team's leading driver ahead of Charles Leclerc.

The former F1 driver believes Hamilton's illustrious record carries little weight in the pecking order at Maranello, insisting that the Briton must first establish clear superiority over his Monegasque team-mate.

And Schumacher has little sympathy for Hamilton's apparent frustrations, suggesting the responsibility for settling the debate rests squarely with the 41-year-old himself.

“The problem is that he is simply not fast enough compared to Leclerc,” Schumacher told Sky Sports Germany.

“If he were clearly better than his team-mate, like my brother was back then, this discussion wouldn’t even exist. He is the one causing it.

“[Hamilton must] always make sure he’s ahead and be a second or half a second faster than Leclerc. Win every race or at least finish ahead of him – it’s that simple.”

Schumacher takes another swipe after Ferrari fallout

Schumacher's latest salvo comes against the backdrop of an increasingly uncomfortable relationship between Ferrari's two drivers, whose disagreements spilled into the open following their opening-lap collision at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Hamilton subsequently accused Leclerc of adopting a “do or die” approach and effectively throwing away what could have been a Ferrari victory, allowing Max Verstappen to capitalise.

The Briton's public frustration prompted Schumacher to launch an earlier attack, taking particular exception to his radio exchanges with the Ferrari pit wall.

The German likened Hamilton's approach to that of notorious American gangster Al Capone, accusing him of effectively threatening his own team.

“What I have a problem with is the drama that followed. You don’t demand a penalty for your team-mate over the radio.

“Then to speak like Al Capone and threaten that ‘we have big, big problems’—from my point of view, the dog is walking the owner.”

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Hamilton, Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur subsequently held clear-the-air discussions ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with all three insisting the matter had been put behind them.

Schumacher, however, remains unconvinced that Ferrari will simply move on from the matter.

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