Lewis Hamilton is reportedly facing growing opposition within Ferrari, with an Italian Formula 1 insider claiming that the seven-time world champion is not particularly popular among members of the Scuderia. The allegations come amid mounting tensions following Ferrari’s controversial clash at the Mexican Grand Prix, raising further questions about Hamilton’s relationship with the team he joined at the beginning of 2025.
The claims were made by Piergiuseppe Donadoni, a journalist from Italian motorsport publication Autoracer. According to Donadoni, concerns about Hamilton’s behaviour extend beyond his increasingly strained relationship with Charles Leclerc and involve other members of the Ferrari organisation.
Speaking about what he had heard from within the team, Donadoni made a particularly striking assessment.
“What I’ve heard is that Hamilton isn’t very popular at Ferrari. His behaviour is almost the complete opposite of what the staff and engineers expect,” the journalist claimed.
However, Donadoni did not provide specific examples to substantiate the allegations, meaning the comments should be treated as insider claims rather than established facts.
Hamilton accused of playing political games at Ferrari
Donadoni went further, suggesting that Hamilton’s approach to managing his position within Formula 1 has not necessarily been welcomed by everyone at Ferrari.
The Italian journalist accused the British driver of playing what he described as “political games”, pointing towards the influence Hamilton has enjoyed through sections of the media throughout his career.
“For years he has had the backing of the press—especially the British press—which has helped him push certain narratives,” Donadoni claimed.
The allegations are particularly significant given Hamilton’s reputation for being closely involved in technical discussions and his willingness to communicate publicly when he believes Ferrari is not delivering what it should.
Hamilton arrived in Maranello with enormous expectations, having spent more than a decade at Mercedes and establishing himself as one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.
His experience was expected to provide Ferrari with valuable leadership as the team attempted to end its long wait for another Drivers’ Championship.
Instead, his time in Italy has increasingly been accompanied by questions about internal relationships and whether the partnership is developing as either side anticipated.
Mexican Grand Prix collision exposes Ferrari tensions
The latest controversy erupted at the Mexican Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Leclerc became involved in a tense battle during the opening lap.
Hamilton had started from pole position, but Leclerc moved alongside his team-mate at Turn Four, running across the grass before emerging in front.
The incident cost Hamilton positions and prompted an angry reaction over the team radio.
“I’ve been pushed out by my own team-mate,” Hamilton complained.
Leclerc subsequently received a five-second penalty, while Hamilton eventually finished second behind Max Verstappen. The Monegasque crossed the line in fourth.
Hamilton was particularly unhappy with the circumstances surrounding the incident and subsequently questioned the mentality behind the way Ferrari’s two drivers were competing.
“The guy is 28 years old, so I don’t think it’s an age issue. I think it’s a mentality issue. It’s like, ‘Eat or be eaten. Either I win or neither of us does.’ That’s not how it should be,” Hamilton said.
The comments represented a public expression of frustration that Ferrari would undoubtedly have preferred to keep behind closed doors.
Hamilton calls for Ferrari to learn from the controversy
Following the race, Hamilton also used social media to underline his concerns about the consequences of Ferrari’s internal competition.
“If this fight costs the team something, we have to deal with it honestly and learn from it,” he wrote on Instagram.
However, the British driver was also keen to emphasise that he remained committed to the project.
“I’m only at the beginning with this team,” Hamilton added.
That distinction is important. Despite the difficulties, Hamilton has not publicly suggested that he wants to abandon his Ferrari adventure.
Nevertheless, Donadoni’s allegations introduce another dimension to the growing controversy.
If Hamilton’s relationship with members of the engineering and operational departments is as difficult as the Italian journalist suggests, Ferrari could face a considerably more complicated challenge than simply managing disagreements between its two drivers.
Neither Ferrari nor Hamilton has publicly confirmed the allegations concerning his popularity within the organisation.
With the Brazilian Grand Prix approaching, the immediate priority will be restoring calm and ensuring that the battle between Hamilton and Leclerc does not compromise Ferrari’s wider objectives.
For team principal Fred Vasseur, maintaining unity between two highly competitive drivers and the wider workforce could prove just as important as finding improvements in the car.
The latest claims remain unsubstantiated, but they add to the growing scrutiny surrounding Hamilton’s relationship with Ferrari at a particularly sensitive stage of the season.
Would you like to see more TJ13 Formula 1 coverage? Add us to your favourites list on Google to receive trusted F1 news.
Craig Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
If you look at where Ferrari is today, compared with where it was before Hamilton joined, you’d see the significence of his input. None of this happened with LeClerc, good driver that he is. The latter will never be a World Champion because he does not have the ruthless mindset that upsets some people. Ferrari will win because Hamilton will make it win.
Hahahahaha!!!! You cult members kill me! Oh yea, sir Lewis is gonna get that 8th championship he was ROBBED of any season now!! Lewis was destroyed by George Russell in his last two seasons with Mercedes so he does an end around the Ferrari F1 team leadership to Elkann because Ferrari had the most promising car at that time. He was struggling at Mercedes because they just wouldn’t listen to his genius and yet George quietly succeeded! A year later Merc was on top and Lewis was in red suffering a dismal embarrassing season decimated by Leclerc. Now that the ground effect cars are pages in history Lewis is coping better but he didn’t bring Ferrari where it is, the rules formula and Ferrari engineers did. While Lewis floundered at TWO teams under the ground effect formula his rivals at both teams adapted and produced excellent results.
Drivers like Piastri and Bottas are not ruthless. Lewis is enraged BECAUSE Charles can be ruthless and has been recently when challenged. Look back to the Karting championships. Max was ruthless, correct? Who was his primary international rival? Hint – It was Charles Leclerc.
If Lewis Hamilton is such a valuable asset, why was Merc only willing to offer him a one year contract extension? Why was Charles rushed a long term contract extension this season? Why haven’t Ferrari offered Lewis ANY new contract? Maybe Lewis should just take his genius to another team!! Who would sign him? Redbull? No… McLaren? No…. Mercedes? No… There’s a potential opening at Haas. He could have 10% of his current salary and show the world his genius with a more difficult car!! Oh right…. Lewis can only perform well in cars that are not challenging to drive… Max, Alonso, Leclerc, Bearman get the most from difficult cars.
Lewis can whine all he likes at Ferrari. He can race there if he gets along or he can go to a back marker team. No doubt Williams would have discussions with him as Saintz was enthusiastically welcomed back to Ferrari. It’s either that, or a rocking chair for grandpa Hamilton. Lewis isn’t getting any faster and his past two teammates have been quicker. He’s having difficulty accepting these facts.
Hamilton has never gotten on with teammates at Mc Laren it was Alonso and at Mercedes it was Rosberg.
His problem is his big head
So much more concise! Why didn’t I just say that?! Well done!
Lewis is and has always been a drama queen.
Ferrari made a HUGE error signing him now they’re paying the price for it.