Formula 1 is arguably the best example of a team sport. Two cars, two drivers, that’s all we see. But behind the scenes, taking the chequered flag means depending on the boys and girls back at the factory, your mechanics, the guys on the pit wall, and sometimes even your teammate! Naturally, even if one cog of the machinery misfires, it can spell disaster. But great drivers have always had the knack for getting the team motivated enough with just the right words to keep them going. And maybe this is where Lewis Hamilton has been lacking.

In the last couple of years, Mercedes hasn’t been at their best. And the 38-year-old, who has been accustomed to winning now, lies languishing in the upper echelons of the midfield. As a consequence, he’s been very vocal about the struggles of the team. He’s even denounced them. But if he ever wants to get his hands on that elusive eight titles, he will have to mend his ways according to an ex-Ferrari insider.

Lewis Hamilton can take a leaf out of Michael Schumacher’s book

The past is always cited in this sport. And with good reason, too. Rob Smedley, who’s rubbed shoulders with the likes of Michael Schumacher has recently been miffed with the way the 7x champion has been lashing out.

He said, “Michael went through all the tough times. I’ve never seen him, even in private, complain about certain people or complain without it being what I call a positive conflict,” as quoted by NextGenAuto.com [translated via Google Translate].

He then went on to say, “When we were winning 15 out of 17 races or whatever, it was easy to talk about it and say how great the culture was, and how great we all were, and pat each other on the back every five minutes. It’s in difficult times that you see the true character of the team and the individuals.”

“The drivers have a key role to play in this. After a difficult year, or a period, you shouldn’t turn against the team and tell them that it’s all their fault. It’s unfair. team has to provide the drivers – the top three or four drivers in F1 – with a great car.”

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Smedley’s words aside, Hamilton has been vindicated by his team principal by a recent revelation.

Hamilton has given a clean chit by Toto Wolff

Hamilton’s incessant talking about the woes of Mercedes has caught a lot of flak from the fans online. However, in light of the same, Toto Wolff recently came out with an admission of guilt that essentially vindicates the 7x champion.

Formu1a.uno quoted the Austrian as saying, “Lewis had a different idea [for the car]. But in the end, we all decided to remain faithful to this concept, encouraged by the good results at the end of last year. Based on our data, it should have worked. But now we have confirmed that we were wrong.”

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Can Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes pull themselves out of this rut they find themselves in 2023?