Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, has delivered a remarkable assessment of Lewis Hamilton's behaviour, stating the seven-time champion's media reactions are "extreme" while issuing a warning to "stay calm".
The French boss revealed that Hamilton's public outbursts actually worsen his situation at the Italian racing team.
According to Vasseur, the British driver displays excessive self-criticism and "sometimes exaggerates the problems he sees" with the car.
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When asked what he could do to help Hamilton, he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: "Stay calm.
Fred Vasseur believes Lewis Hamilton's reactions have been 'extreme' and warned the driver to 'stay calm'
|REUTERS
"Build on the fact that he has already taken the first step. Don’t let things like what happened in Budapest get you down.
"Lewis is very self-critical. He is always extreme in his reactions. Sometimes he is too hard on the car, sometimes on himself. He wants to get the most out of himself and everyone in the team.
"You have to calm him down and explain to him that in Q2 [in Hungary] he was only a tenth of a second behind the driver [Leclerc] who later took pole position. That’s no big deal.
"The message he sends out only makes things worse.
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"Most of the time, he’s only that extreme with the press. By the time he comes into the briefing room, he’s usually calmed down again. That’s just his way."
Hamilton's adaptation difficulties at Ferrari have become increasingly apparent, with the driver now enduring 14 consecutive races without reaching the podium since joining the Scuderia.
Technical challenges with Ferrari's engine braking system have emerged as a significant obstacle for the 40-year-old.
Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Hamilton has yet to master the specific characteristics of Ferrari's braking setup, which differs substantially from his previous Mercedes machinery.
The combination of Ferrari's engine braking and new Brembo materials contributed to his unexpected spin during July's Belgian Grand Prix.
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Vasseur downplayed these technical issues, suggesting they cost Hamilton "maybe half a tenth" per lap whilst maintaining the driver tends to overstate vehicle problems.
Hamilton's frustrations reached their peak during the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he managed only 12th place in qualifying whilst teammate Charles Leclerc secured pole position.
The British driver repeatedly described himself as "useless" following the session and suggested Ferrari should consider finding a replacement.
His disappointment continued through race day, finishing in 12th position before making cryptic comments about internal issues.
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The 40-year-old has failed to make the podium since his move to Scuderia
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"There's a lot going on in the background that's not great," Hamilton admitted to media after the Budapest race
The qualifying performance particularly stung, with Hamilton appearing dejected and delivering harsh self-assessments that concerned team management.
The Ferrari boss drew parallels with former driver Nico Hulkenberg, who displayed similar demanding behaviour during their Formula 3 collaboration.
"He demanded an awful lot from the team, but he was also there every morning at 6.30am," Vasseur recalled, suggesting Hamilton's high standards come with corresponding dedication.
The speculation surrounding Ferrari has created additional pressure within the team environment.
Vasseur disclosed his frustration when rumours about his job security surfaced during June's Canadian Grand Prix, with reports suggesting Antonello Coletta might replace him.
The Ferrari boss blamed media speculation for creating unnecessary "noise" that delayed resolving his future at Maranello.
He declared: "Rumours caused the turmoil. I didn’t spread them, the media did. Neither Ferrari nor I said anything."