Former Ferrari engineer issues 'demeaning' Lewis Hamilton verdict

Former Ferrari performance engineer Jock Clear has stated it would have been demeaning for F1 if Lewis Hamilton won a title right away with the Italian squad.

Hamilton made the switch from Mercedes to Ferrari last year, bringing an end to his highly successful stint with the Silver Arrows.

His maiden season at Ferrari was full of challenges, and the seven-time champion endured the first campaign of his long career without a podium finish.

Hamilton commented on several occasions last year that it was the most challenging season he has ever been part of.

Clear, who worked with Hamilton at both Ferrari and Mercedes, stated it was unrealistic to expect the 41-year-old to gel instantly with his new environment.

“It doesn’t happen overnight and I said to a few people [in the] middle of the season, I know Lewis really had a tough time last year dealing with how difficult the challenge was,” Clear told CasinoHawks.

”It’s reassuring to remind people how difficult F1 is.

“If Lewis arrived and just won an eighth championship, it sort of demeans or belittles the sport somewhat.

“You look at Carlos at Williams. After five races, people were like: ‘Oh, what’s happened? I thought he was going to blow Alex Albon away.’

“Look at him by the end of the year. It doesn’t happen overnight.

“I think part of that frustration for Lewis is probably that he knows that.

“But he just needs time.”

Hamilton is chasing a record-breaking eighth F1 title and is hoping the regulation update this year will put Ferrari back at the top of the pecking order.

Clear has backed Hamilton to return to the grid as a stronger driver after using the winter break to recover.

“Lewis is not going to give up just because 2025 was tough,” he said.

“He foresaw it being very tough. Hamilton will come back stronger and harder [in 2026], work on the development and do everything he can do to see the project through.”