P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Questions raised over Lewis Hamilton’s “freedom” at Ferrari: ‘Is he told to drive and shut up?’
Jacques Villeneuve has raised doubts about Lewis Hamilton’s autonomy in setting up his car compared to Max Verstappen at Red Bull, questioning if this is impacting Hamilton’s performance in the 2025 F1 season.
Ferrari’s lackluster start to the season, with only one podium finish in six races, contrasts with Hamilton’s victory in the China sprint race, which stands out as a high point.
Despite a better result in Miami, where Hamilton finished close to Leclerc, he continues to grapple with adapting to the Ferrari SF-25 and finding the necessary pace.
Villeneuve highlighted the importance of Hamilton having the right support team, including a competent race engineer, to navigate this challenging transition.
The former champion also pondered whether Hamilton has the freedom to make setup decisions and shape his driving style within the Ferrari team, as compared to Verstappen’s apparent autonomy at Red Bull.
