Lewis Hamilton has endured a tricky season with Ferrari and has been outspoken about his frustrations, but the Italian team have now moved to stop his outbursts

Lewis Hamilton has been told to stop his outbursts about Ferrari’s struggles(Image: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that Ferrari chiefs have stepped in to stop him speaking out on the issues with the team’s car. Hamilton has endured a tricky start to his time with the Scuderia.

The seven-time world champion is yet to record a podium in a feature race, though he did win the Sprint in China. He could only manage a sixth-place finish in the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago. The 40-year-old pointed to a major problem with his car as the reason the disappointing result in Barcelona.

Speaking to race engineer Riccardo Adami after the chequered flag, Hamilton said: “There’s something wrong with this car. It’s the worst it’s ever been.” Team-mate Charles Leclerc has enjoyed a better season, recording two successive podium finishes.

On the whole though, Ferrari are far from where they want to be in what is the final year of the current regulations. Hamilton has been vocal about the issues afflicting the Scuderia this season. But heading into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, the British star has revealed that Ferrari have moved to stop his outbursts of frustration.

“Unfortunately they don’t want us really to talk too much about it, but we both had issues that were hindering us massively from halfway through the race already,” Hamilton said. “What I didn’t know is whether or not we had that problem.

“Obviously I said on the radio that it was the worst-feeling car that I’d ever had, and it truly was with that issue. At the end of the race, I was kind of like, jeez, I’ve never experienced something this bad for such a prolonged time through a race.

“It wasn’t until after the TV interviews that we got back to the engineers and we found out there was an issue. So it was a bit of a relief to hear that because it definitely didn’t feel so terrible afterwards.

“The car very much has a real sweet spot and we’re trying to get it working at all those tracks which everyone’s having a struggle with. I’m hoping this weekend can be strong.”

Ferrari’s issues have led to speculation around team principal Fred Vasseur’s future. But Hamilton has insisted he remains fully behind Vasseur and does not believe a change at the top is needed.

“Firstly I love working with Fred – Fred’s the main reason I’m in this team and got the opportunity to be here, for which I’m forever grateful for, and we’re in this together,” he said.

“We’re working hard in the background, things aren’t perfect but, for me, I’m here to work with the team but also with Fred – I want Fred here. I do believe Fred is the person to take us to the top, so that’s that. So it’s all nonsense.

“It isn’t all easy, it’s not like it’s all the smoothest sailing in the background – we are having to make changes and there is a lot of work to do, and there is naturally a lot of pressure because we want to win.

“I’ve literally just started here with Ferrari and I’m here for several years, and I’m here for the long-haul, so there is no question in where my head’s at and what I’m working towards achieving with this team, so there’s zero doubts.”