Former Ferrari and McLaren employee Joan Villadelprat has hit out at seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, with Villadelprat having labelled the Mercedes driver as a “spoiled little boy”.
Hamilton is seen as a “whiner” by the former Ferrari employee, with the 38-year-old having heavily complained about his car already this season.
There has been little joy for Hamilton since the start of the new aerodynamic era, with Mercedes having struggled since the start of 2022.
As a result, Hamilton has been highly critical of the team and the direction they need to take, in a bid to close the gap to Red Bull.
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It was only recently that the 103-time race winner admitted that the team hadn’t listened to him during the winter break, in regard to the W14’s concept.
Mercedes are, of course, on the verge of introducing a new concept of the W14, something which is expected to be introduced at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
2023 was supposed to start well for Mercedes, especially after the ended last season looking fairly strong.
Following their disappointing start, though, Hamilton has called for the team to take “accountability” for their poor performance, with the Silver Arrows having made changes to their technical team in a bid to get the W14 working correctly.
Mercedes were stronger at the recent Australian Grand Prix, where Hamilton claimed the team’s first podium of the season.
This weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix will likely be a difficult weekend for the Germans, though, given their lack of straight-line speed.
There is no doubt that Hamilton wants Mercedes to improve and is urging them to do so, but in Villadelprat’s opinion he’s criticised his team too much already this year.
“Hamilton is fed up and, if he doesn’t win, he’s like a spoiled little boy: you either win or you break the toys,” he told El Confidencial.
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“He’s a whiner, you know. The tyres, the strategy, he questions everything, and he has screwed up. When you have a [teammate] who is faster than you, it is normal to be quiet and put your head under your wing.
“I think he hasn’t lost but, after seven titles… What motivates you? Well, win another. And you’re not going to risk your skin if you don’t have that car.
“What is evident is that Hamilton is not the same as his first or second championship.”