P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“So, in my opinion, from that perspective, Lewis’ performance this year hasn’t been that bad as it looks.”
Ex-Formula One driver Esteban Gutierrez has come to the defense of Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari, stating that it hasn’t been as poor as it may appear. Despite this, Hamilton has yet to secure a podium finish for Ferrari during this inaugural season with the team, breaking the record for the most races for Ferrari without a top-three finish. In a recent race in Mexico City, Hamilton encountered misfortune, losing out to teammate Charles Leclerc after an incident involving Max Verstappen. Hamilton received a penalty and finished in eighth place, while Leclerc secured second position. Hamilton’s qualifying performance has shown improvement since the summer break, but execution on race day remains a key area for development as he gears up for the new 2026 F1 regulations. Gutierrez acknowledges the challenges of competing for Ferrari and believes that Hamilton can build on this season’s experience for a stronger showing in the future.
