Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari stint getting "horrible to watch" in Charles Leclerc's comparison, claims former F1 star

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has shared that it has become "horrible to watch" Lewis Hamilton struggling at Ferrari. He highlighted how, while the seven-time champion struggles, teammate Charles Leclerc manages to be consistent and capitalize on strong starts to bring a result home for the team.

The Mexico Grand Prix was a rollercoaster for Hamilton. He helped Ferrari secure a 2-3 in qualifying with Leclerc ahead of him. It was the Scuderia's best joint qualifying of the season and the Briton's best.

However, early on in the race, the stewards gave him a 10-second stop-and-go penalty for cutting the corner and gaining an advantage during a lap 6 battle with Max Verstappen. That cost Lewis Hamilton big in the big picture, and he fell out of contention for his first podium finish with Ferrari. He eventually finished in a lowly P8, while Charles Leclerc finished runner-up to race winner Lando Norris.

Johnny Herbert called the Mexico GP "a mixed bag" for Hamilton and told AdventureGamers (via Express):

"It was another frustrating weekend for him. It was a better qualifying. He seemed to be happier with the qualifying performance. But then in the race it didn't quite materialise. It just didn't click for him. It just seems to be an ongoing thing. It’s horrible to watch." "It’s an ongoing saga for him where Charles is still being very consistent and getting the job done. Lewis did say he was more comfortable with the car. So, let's see if there is progress in the remaining races. They want that. All Lewis fans will want that at the same time. It hasn't yet materialised."

Excluding DNFs, DSQs, and sprint results, Lewis Hamilton has an average finish of 6.61 in the races this year, while Charles Leclerc, who has earned seven podiums, has an average finish of 5. The Monegasque is fifth in the drivers' championship standings with 210 points, while his teammate is sixth with 146 points.

The seven-time F1 champion has also become the holder of an unwanted record, running 20 races with Ferrari without a podium.

Herbert claims Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's battle in Mexico was the "way racing should be"

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton battle for position at the F1 Mexico Grand Prix - Source: Getty

While Johnny Herbert lamented Lewis Hamilton's struggles at Ferrari, he was all praise for the Ferrari driver's battle with Max Verstappen at the Mexico GP. The two world champions were involved in a short but interesting tussle for P3 on lap 6 of the 71-lap race.

The Red Bull driver made a late lunge into Turn 1 to take P3 from his rival. The duo banged wheels in the corner, sending Hamilton momentarily off the track before he returned to go side-by-side into Turn 2. The track narrowed, and Verstappen cut through the grass to emerge in P3 after Turn 3.

Lewis Hamilton, in attempting to challenge his rival after the straight in Turn 4, locked up his front tires and went into the grass. He cut through the corner and retook P3, but got a penalty for doing the same.

"It was good to see Lewis race with Max," Herbert said via Express. "I thought that was a great piece of racing. There was a little bit of wheel-banging, but that was the way racing should be. It was a late dive up the inside. Lewis probably wasn't expecting it."

Max Verstappen eventually finished on the podium in P3, while Lewis Hamilton was left criticizing the FIA for his controversial 10-second penalty.

Edited by Yash Kotak