Lewis Hamilton fears grow after Michael Schumacher contrast and telling Ferrari change

Ralf Schumacher admits that Ferrari career hasn't gotten off on the best foot, and he may end up quitting Formula One for good if his luck doesn't change. The British racing icon made the shock move from during the 2025 offseason, after announcing his departure from Toto Wolff's team before the beginning of the 2024 campaign. However, the move hasn't exactly gone to plan this far - with his best result in main races being fifth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite some otherwise promising performances in the sprint contests.

Now, former F1 star Ralf Schumacher - brother of racing icon Michael - has opened up on Hamilton's time so far with , and claimed the 40-year-old is at a disadvantage because the vehicle isn't built around him. Speaking to Sport Bild, Schumacher said: "You can see how much the situation is weighing on him. When you feel you're stuck as a driver, anything can happen.

"I don't know why they thought they could compete for the championship. With a car that was actually built for Charles Leclerc. And that he only tested for two days in Bahrain."

Ralf also made reference to his brother Michael and his successful career with Ferrari, where he won five consecutive F1 World Championships. The younger Schumacher sibling explained the strict preparation that was undertaken during Michael's time at Scuderia, and the impact this has on the driver, adding: "When Michael moved to Ferrari, he tested the car for 35,000 kilometres in the winter.

"The message was clear: preparation and car development tailored to the driver make all the difference, and Hamilton may not have been given the optimal foundation for success in 2025."

The situation on the track is clearly weighing on Hamilton's shoulders, as he admitted his displeasure at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - and lack of excitement for the upcoming race in Miami. He said: "There wasn't a single second where I felt comfortable. No fun, no flow, nothing positive.

"I think I'll struggle also in Miami. I don't know how much longer I'll struggle for, but it's definitely painful. At the moment, there's no fix. So, this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. It's going to be painful."

Schumacher was in agreement with Hamilton, admitting that his new team is "merciless" when it comes to handling bad results. Ralf added: "At Mercedes, Hamilton was under special protection - that's no longer the case at Ferrari.

"Fred Vasseur shows how serious things are there. He used to always have a light-hearted joke. But now he's lost his sense of humour."

Schumacher also told Sky Germany's Backstage Pit Lane podcast that if the situation continues the way it does at Ferrari, then Hamilton won't stay there for much longer. He said: "You can see that he's really slumped over.

"If you're standing there at some point and have no more resources and are permanently slower, then you lose everything. I know from my own experience: if it goes on like this, it's no fun anymore.

"If it goes on like this, there's a risk that at some point he'll say: 'Look, I don't want this anymore'. Obviously, it's not working out for some reason. It's a huge project that Ferrari and Hamilton had in mind, but at the moment, he's a long way away from Charles Leclerc."

Hamilton finished third in Saturday's chaotic sprint race with the help of a perfectly time pit stop. However, he will line up in 12th for the main race after failing to make it out of the second qualifying session.