From High Spirits to Paddock Frustration
The Lewis Hamilton we see in the paddock after the summer break is not the same happy-go-lucky, super-positive chap who was there earlier in the season. After a year where he was welcomed by his new Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, the seven-time champion appeared to be enjoying himself much more in the all-new 2026 Formula One cars.
To be fair, it was nip and tuck between Hamilton and Leclerc across the first five rounds of the year. The standings after the Canadian Grand Prix saw Charles on 75 points with Lewis just behind on 72. Then came the late disaster for Leclerc at his home race in Monaco, where after the restart his car slid into the barrier due to the asphalt breaking up at the final corner and all 15 points were lost. Meanwhile, Hamilton collected 18 points for his second-place finish.
Championship Swings and Intra-Team Tension
Next time out in Barcelona, Hamilton won the race for Ferrari while a late mechanical failure saw his teammate stop on track. The gap between the teammates was extended by another 25 points. In Austria, Hamilton was a mere fifth and spoke of the “reality check” Ferrari had when compared to the power of Mercedes. Leclerc finished P8, and the deficit between the Ferrari duo became the largest of the season at 46 points.
It was then Hamilton began his propaganda push for Ferrari to work more as a “team.” Behind the suggestion was that only he had a realistic chance of chasing down the championship leader in Kimi Antonelli. Despite Leclerc winning the British Grand Prix, this narrative persisted in the run-up to Ferrari’s home race in Monza, where he even suggested Fred Vasseur was not taking the tough decisions required for the team to improve.
As TJ13 reported, the post-Monza Italian media were incensed following the coming-together of Hamilton and Leclerc on the first lap. There was widespread speculation regarding team dynamics, reports of internal friction, tension involving team principal Fred Vasseur, and alleged demands regarding personnel shake-ups—though Hamilton swiftly pushed back on and denied those specific rumours.
The Turning Point in Madrid and Baku
Next up in Madrid, Hamilton conceded his hopes of an eighth title and was then to suffer an early brake problem in the Grand Prix, forcing him to retire his car from the race. Leclerc bested Hamilton in Baku, and the gap between the pair is now just twenty points, which is broadly representative of the extra points Charles lost in Monaco.
Hamilton was sullen after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. When asked about the paddock rumours suggesting Fred Vasseur was no longer capable of leading the team, Hamilton replied with a curt “yes” when asked if he still backed him.
Terruzzi’s Critique and the Raikkonen Comparison
Once again, the Italian media are on the seven-time champion’s case. Veteran F1 journalist Giorgio Terruzzi entitled his post-race column “Hamilton’s pout.” He likened the British driver to Kimi Raikkonen, who drove twice for Ferrari and won their last drivers’ championship. Yet, the comparison was not complimentary.
“In yesterday’s interviews, he [Hamilton] looked like Raikkonen from the good old days. Desire to talk: zero. Wanting to be elsewhere: maximum,” penned Terruzzi. He noted a decline in Hamilton’s mood over the last seven races, during which Leclerc has beaten him five times in Grands Prix.
The Italian goes on to reveal there is a group of engineers in Maranello who are highly critical of Hamilton’s consistent interventions, claiming things must change. Mockingly, this includes everything from the colour of the walls in the garage to the track personnel. Terruzzi recalls the intervention of Ferrari president John Elkann last year.
Inside the Maranello Pressure Cooker
Speaking at an Italian Olympic Committee event ahead of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Ferrari chairman Elkann said: “If we look at the season in F1, we can say we have mechanics who are winning the championship with the performances they’re putting in, particularly with everything they are doing in our pit stops. If we look at our engineers, the car has undoubtedly improved. If we look at the rest, it’s not up to standard.”
Then, in somewhat of a sidewinder directed at Leclerc and Hamilton, the Ferrari boss declared: “We have drivers who need to focus more and talk less, because we still have important races to come, and finishing second in the constructors’ isn’t impossible.”
Once again, the Italian media have been reporting that Hamilton is pushing for personnel changes within the race team, but Terruzzi goes further, claiming that Leclerc is in fact Ferrari’s chosen son—something Hamilton now hates. He cites a “series of attitudes and decisions too favourable towards Leclerc in the season in which he [Hamilton] is in a position of advantage over his teammate.”
Giorgio goes on to claim this has “taken away the honey from the relationship with Vasseur, according to him now being a little too close to Charles. Not only that: there are those who talk about a few mistakes actually made on the car by a great champion who can’t stand making a bad impression; those who accuse Hamilton of taking it out on the technicians even when the responsibility for a subdued performance is due to him.”
How to Convince Sir Lewis?
Terruzzi’s suggestion, though, is radical. He believes the early-season dominance of Leclerc meant Hamilton was “deserving the role of first leader, a role that has always belonged to him. It’s not going like this at all, not only because of Mercedes: it can’t go on like this. With a sullen star fixed inside a car [that is] anyway losing. Because the problem is mainly there. Ferrari loses shots, backs up, doesn’t win. How can you convince Sir Lewis?”
Behind the poetry of the writing style and the Italian translation, the intention is clear. Terruzzi’s sights are fixed on Ferrari and their perpetual woes they bring upon themselves. He even reported last week that Vasseur has a new nickname in Maranello: NAPOLEON!
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
