P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Former Belgian F1 driver Thierry Boutsen has revealed what he thinks is the reason behind Lewis Hamilton’s loss of form this season – also stating that if he is to win a championship with Ferrari, it will be on the team’s merit.
Former Formula 1 driver Thierry Boutsen suggests Lewis Hamilton may not be giving “100 percent” in his final year at Mercedes, possibly only performing at 98 percent. Boutsen, who raised concerns about Hamilton’s performance, does not believe Hamilton is ‘phoning it in’ before his move to Ferrari next season. Hamilton’s struggle to give his all is evident, as seen in his race decisions like letting George Russell pass in Japan, a move he may not have made in the past. Boutsen believes a change of scenery could help revitalize Hamilton as he transitions to Ferrari. He also argues that the driver alone cannot bring a team to the top level as they once could, emphasizing the shift towards computer and engineer-led car development. Despite hopes for Hamilton to boost Ferrari’s competitiveness, Boutsen questions if joining the team late in the year allows enough time for him to influence the car’s performance and team dynamics effectively.
