Lewis Hamilton handed unusual engineer relationship advice amid 'huge disadvantage'

Lewis Hamilton has been urged to take an unconventional step to address what has been a fraught start to life at Ferrari.

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has suggested the seven-time world champion should go on holiday with his race engineer Riccardo Adami.

Hamilton's first season in red was marked by moments of audible tension over the radio, with several flashpoints highlighting the fragility of a relationship that is still finding its feet.

Amid recent speculation that Ferrari is considering giving the British driver a new engineer, Schumacher pointed out how those issues are not merely cosmetic and represent a fundamental weakness that could continue to hinder Hamilton’s performance.

"Hamilton and his engineer Riccardo Adami just don't get along very well. That's a huge disadvantage for Lewis," the former Jordan, Williams and Toyota driver told Sport1, delivering a blunt assessment of the situation.

The German even offered an unorthodox piece of advice, adding: "I think the two of them should go on vacation together."

Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari have also been technical in nature. Schumacher pointed to differences in driving style between Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc, particularly as Formula 1 looks to the sweeping regulation changes looming.

"The cars will be more nervous,” the six-time grand prix winner explained. "Charles Leclerc can deal with that, but Hamilton, on the other hand, needs a more stable rear end of the car."

Beyond the technical and relational issues, Schumacher was also critical of how Hamilton reacted publicly to adversity during his debut Ferrari campaign.

"What disappoints me most is how he's handling the problems. He shoots in all directions. And then that resignation... From someone with his track record, you expect something more," he said.