In a dramatic twist that no Ferrari fan wants to hear, former F1 champion Nico Rosberg has openly criticized Ferrari’s race car, while extending his sympathy to Lewis Hamilton for handling what he described as “the worst car.” This unfolds amid Hamilton’s struggles during the recent free practice sessions, where his car’s performance did no favors for the seven-time world champion’s efforts.
The Spanish Grand Prix practice sessions saw Lewis Hamilton move from the top three in FP1 to a disappointing 11th place in FP2. His frustration was evident as he found his car “not drivable,” a statement that Rosberg, now a commentator, echoed with his on-the-spot observations. Rosberg, speaking during a broadcast, stated, “If we can come to the worst car – as I mentioned out on track – is the Ferrari.” Such blunt criticism from Rosberg brings to light the real struggle Hamilton faces on the track.
Racing alongside the challenges, Hamilton’s former racing partner, Rosberg, witnessed firsthand the struggles Hamilton had with the Ferrari’s handling. “Oh my goodness! Poor Lewis Hamilton. That car is a handful,” Rosberg noted, highlighting significant understeer and snap oversteer issues. As Hamilton navigated through the notorious Turn 5, the car’s flaws became undeniably apparent, with excessive understeer leading to a visible fight for control. This struggle with the steering was seen again at Turn 7, where Rosberg observed Hamilton’s efforts to maintain control and avoid veering off.
Even Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s teammate, who finished 5th in FP2, wasn’t spared from Rosberg’s critical eye. Rosberg humorously noted that Leclerc’s driving style, forced by the car’s limitations, might have impressed rally legend Colin McRae rather than an F1 analyst. Leclerc’s maneuvers were described as being akin to navigating a rally track rather than a Formula 1 circuit, using “full opposite lock” as a necessity, not a strategy for speed.
This candid observation from Rosberg is not just an isolated critique but part of a broader narrative concerning Ferrari’s ongoing struggle with car performance. Despite Leclerc managing to handle the vehicle slightly better, the issues highlighted by Rosberg indicate a deeper engineering challenge within the Ferrari team—a saga that adds another layer of complexity to Hamilton’s current season.
With Rosberg’s unsparing comments on Ferrari’s performance, the team’s technical difficulties are laid bare, spotlighting the challenges Hamilton faces this season. His struggles are not just about personal performance but are intertwined with the broader mechanical issues plaguing Ferrari. As the season unfolds, the focus will remain on how Ferrari addresses these setbacks and whether Hamilton can find a competitive edge in what has been described as “the worst car.”
