Karun Chandhok Faces Criticism from Lewis Hamilton Followers After Pointing Out Ferrari Star’s Saudi Struggles
Karun Chandhok has discovered himself on the middle of a backlash from Lewis Hamilton’s devoted fanbase following important feedback he made in regards to the Ferrari driver’s underwhelming efficiency on the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Hamilton, who joined the Maranello-based crew this season in one of the high-profile strikes in System 1 historical past, endured arguably his most disappointing weekend in pink to this point.
Throughout qualifying in Jeddah, Hamilton was greater than half a second adrift of teammate Charles Leclerc. Whereas Leclerc secured P4, Hamilton might 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 an excellent 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 for the reason that 2017 Russian Grand Prix. After briefly gaining a place from Carlos Sainz in the beginning, Hamilton didn’t 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—in the end handed him, and Hamilton light from rivalry.
‘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 choose 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 explanation for his alternative.
Chandhok famous that Hamilton had appeared off the tempo all through the weekend, with a constant deficit of round six-tenths per lap to his teammate—a large hole by System 1 requirements, particularly for a seven-time world champion. Fellow pundit Martin Brundle additionally weighed in, suggesting Hamilton seemed to be heading within the unsuitable route by way of automobile improvement and confidence. Whereas Hamilton had proven some promise throughout the second stint in Bahrain, his Jeddah outing was a transparent step again.
The remarks didn’t sit nicely 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 had been upset over the “oops” label, and he had been receiving backlash all through the week in consequence.
Ferrari’s Gamble with 2025 Automotive Could Have Undermined Hamilton Earlier than Season Even Started
Whereas followers direct frustration towards pundits, inner stress can also be mounting inside Ferrari. A journalist near the crew reported that Hamilton may very well be dealing with elevated scrutiny from inside Maranello because the preliminary buzz surrounding his arrival quickly cools. The excessive expectations set throughout the winter testing interval have shortly been changed by concern and disappointment.
Ferrari crew principal Fred Vasseur has to this point provided unwavering public assist for Hamilton, defending his performances with seen ardour. Nevertheless, even Hamilton himself admitted after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that the remainder of the season is perhaps a painful one—an announcement many interpreted as a tacit concession that 2025 is now not about successful, however surviving.
When he subsequent speaks to the media on the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton might undertake a extra composed tone. Nonetheless, until he constantly closes the hole to Leclerc and challenges for podiums, questions on Ferrari’s route and his position inside the crew will solely intensify.
Many observers consider 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 crew opted for a dramatic redesign in an try to 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—significantly 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 seems to be better than many anticipated. Whether or not the crew can ship the enhancements he wants—or whether or not 2026’s regulation adjustments will provide a reset—stays one of the compelling storylines in F1 in the present day.
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