Doornbos Slams Hamilton: “It’s Instagram Versus Reality”

Lewis Hamilton is nearing the end of his first season with Ferrari, but the seven-time world champion has yet to convince. He has not taken a single podium for the Scuderia, though he did break a Formula 1 record on social media. Former driver Robert Doornbos is unimpressed, arguing that Hamilton may have fallen for the “Instagram version” of Ferrari. 

Hamilton’s first-ever Instagram post in Ferrari colours — taken in front of Enzo Ferrari’s former home — became the most-liked Formula 1 image of all time. Doornbos believes this image highlights the gap between Hamilton’s expectations and the reality he has encountered at Maranello. 

“Hamilton and Ferrari Is Not a Good Combination” 

“It feels like living in a nightmare,” Doornbos said on the Pit Talk podcast. “He said the dream of signing for this organisation was huge. But the reality is different. It’s like those Instagram versus reality pictures. This is not what he expected, nor what Ferrari expected.” 

According to Doornbos, the problems run deep. “There’s no qualifying pace. There’s no race pace. The communication isn’t there. The energy isn’t there. I mean, this has been one of

the worst seasons a Ferrari driver has had. And we’re talking about a seven-time world champion.” 

Is Hamilton Really One of Ferrari’s Worst Performers? 

The last time a Ferrari driver had fewer points after 21 races was during the troubled 2020 season, when both Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel struggled — but that campaign featured only seventeen races. Leclerc scored 98 points that year; Hamilton after seventeen races this season has collected 121. 

Hamilton’s best result came early in the season, meaning there was no immediate panic. The Brit won the sprint in China but has yet to reach the podium in a Grand Prix. He has, however, finished fourth on four occasions.

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  • Team Ferrari
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