Lewis Hamilton has been accused of being a “spoiled little boy” in a damning interview from former F1 team manager Joan Villadelprat.
Speaking to Spanish publication El Confidencial, Villadelprat, who worked for McLaren, Ferrari, Benetton, Tyrrell and Prost, believes the seven-time world champion is not the same driver he was when he secured his first title in 2008.
Villadelprat’s harsh comments came as he was asked about Hamilton’s performance compared with teammate George Russell, who outscored him last season and has outqualified him in every race so far 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 claimed.
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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.”
Villadelprat’s remarks come amid speculation over Hamilton’s future in Formula 1, with some believing he is ready to walk away from the sport, while others feel he might seek a new team to help secure a record-breaking eighth world title.
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Hamilton’s options for a new team are limited, as Red Bull team principal Christian Horner ruled out the possibility of signing the seven-time world champion, standing by his current line up of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
That leaves Ferrari as really the only option for Hamilton if he wants to move to another top team, although he might be put off by the difficult start to the season that the Italian outfit has had.
With Charles Leclerc suffering two DNFs in three races and Carlos Sainz being stripped of his P4 finish in Australia, Ferrari find themselves in P4 in the Constructors’ Standings.