Karun Chandhok Faces Criticism from Lewis Hamilton Followers After Pointing Out Ferrari Star’s Saudi Struggles
Karun Chandhok has discovered himself on the heart of a backlash from Lewis Hamilton’s devoted fanbase following crucial feedback he made concerning the Ferrari driver’s underwhelming efficiency on the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who joined the Maranello-based staff this season in one of the crucial high-profile strikes in Formulation 1 historical past, endured arguably his most disappointing weekend in crimson to date.
Throughout qualifying in Jeddah, Hamilton was greater than half a second adrift of teammate Charles Leclerc. Whereas Leclerc secured P4, Hamilton may solely handle P7.
The distinction was much more placing when contemplating that 18-year-old Oliver Bearman, making his first-ever F1 look as a last-minute substitute, managed to get nearer to Leclerc’s tempo than Hamilton did.
The race painted a good bleaker image. Hamilton crossed the end line over 30 seconds behind Leclerc on uncooked tempo—marking the primary time he had suffered such a margin to a teammate because the 2017 Russian Grand Prix. After briefly gaining a place from Carlos Sainz at the beginning, Hamilton did not make additional progress. Though he held off Lando Norris for a brief interval, the McLaren driver—who had began tenth after a crash in Q3—finally handed him, and Hamilton light from competition.
‘Oops of the Weekend’ Remark Triggers On-line Backlash
Karun Chandhok’s post-race evaluation, shared through Sky Sports activities’ social media platforms, singled out Hamilton as his decide for the “oops of the weekend.” The previous F1 driver highlighted the numerous efficiency hole between Hamilton and Leclerc, each in qualifying and the race, as the rationale for his alternative.
Chandhok famous that Hamilton had seemed off the tempo all through the weekend, with a constant deficit of round six-tenths per lap to his teammate—a large hole by Formulation 1 requirements, particularly for a seven-time world champion. Fellow pundit Martin Brundle additionally weighed in, suggesting Hamilton seemed to be heading within the mistaken course when it comes to automobile growth and confidence. Whereas Hamilton had proven some promise in the course of the second stint in Bahrain, his Jeddah outing was a transparent step again.
The remarks didn’t sit effectively with Hamilton’s passionate supporters, sometimes called “Staff LH.” Throughout a later section on The F1 Present, Chandhok acknowledged that he had drawn appreciable criticism from followers on-line. He shared that a lot of Hamilton’s followers have been upset over the “oops” label, and he had been receiving backlash all through the week because of this.
Ferrari’s Gamble with 2025 Automotive Might Have Undermined Hamilton Earlier than Season Even Started
Whereas followers direct frustration towards pundits, inner strain can also be mounting inside Ferrari. A journalist near the staff reported that Hamilton might be dealing with elevated scrutiny from inside Maranello because the preliminary buzz surrounding his arrival quickly cools. The excessive expectations set in the course of the winter testing interval have shortly been changed by concern and disappointment.
Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur has to date provided unwavering public help for Hamilton, defending his performances with seen ardour. Nonetheless, even Hamilton himself admitted after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that the remainder of the season could be a painful one—a press release many interpreted as a tacit concession that 2025 is now not about profitable, however surviving.
When he subsequent speaks to the media on the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton might undertake a extra composed tone. Nonetheless, except he constantly closes the hole to Leclerc and challenges for podiums, questions on Ferrari’s course and his position inside the staff will solely intensify.
Many observers imagine Ferrari’s winter overhaul of the SF-25 was a strategic misstep. Regardless of ending simply 14 factors behind McLaren within the 2024 constructors’ standings, the staff opted for a dramatic redesign in an try and vault forward. Thus far, that gamble seems to have backfired. As an alternative of catching McLaren or Crimson Bull, Ferrari now finds itself with a automobile that’s not solely slower but in addition harder to drive—notably for Lewis Hamilton, who has but to search out consolation behind the wheel.
For the Briton, a driver who has constructed his profession on precision, adaptability, and excellence, the problem of turning issues round at Ferrari appears larger than many anticipated. Whether or not the staff can ship the enhancements he wants—or whether or not 2026’s regulation adjustments will provide a reset—stays one of the crucial compelling storylines in F1 in the present day.
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