Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton is “extremely seething” as things stand, with the Mercedes driver having been beaten again by team-mate George Russell.
Hamilton finished two places behind Russell on Sunday at the Miami Grand Prix, marking the second time this season he’s been beaten by the 25-year-old.
In the 38-year-old’s defence, his recovery drive from P13 on the grid was exceptional on Sunday, with him having finished the race at the Miami International Autodrome in sixth.
Despite this, Mercedes’ overall pace was again below-par, with the side having been third in the pecking order when it came to race pace.
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Schumacher believes the team’s lack of pace is starting to really annoy the Briton, with finishing behind Russell being the “maximum penalty”.
“Lewis Hamilton is currently going to be extremely seething,” Schumacher said in his post-race column for Sky Deutschland.
“He’s not used to not winning. He wants attention, you can always see that in his outfits.
“In Miami he landed behind his team-mate George Russell. This is a maximum penalty for Hamilton.”
Hamilton and Mercedes can at least turn a page following last weekend, with the new concept of the W14 set to be introduced at the next Grand Prix in Imola.
Whilst this won’t magically close the gap to Red Bull, it’s expected to help Mercedes challenge for the podium more often, with Schumacher having faith in the Silver Arrows that the new concept will be effective.
The brother of Michael Schumacher is expecting a “significant increase” in performance from Mercedes at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with the German admitting that the Brackley-based team have a “real problem” if the concept fails to improve their results.
“Whether Red Bull will be dangerous again this season will become apparent in Europe when the many updates come,” Schumacher said.
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“Where you can always hope is that Red Bull doesn’t get the best out of the car. Then there might be a chance for someone else.
“Especially Mercedes could be expected again after the updates, I don’t trust the other teams that much.
“Mercedes is coming to Europe with a whole new concept. I expect a significant increase, otherwise they have a real problem.”