Ted Kravitz says Lewis Hamilton has now made one Ferrari mistake that Michael Schumacher always avoided

Michael Schumacher had a mixed start to his first-ever Formula 1 season at Ferrari back in 1996. He had to retire from his debut in Australia with brake problems.

Schumacher then scored his first podium for the team at round two in Brazil, albeit after being lapped by Damon Hill. Another DNF followed in Argentina, this time due to wing damage.

Back-to-back runner-up finishes at the European and San Marino Grands Prix suggested his first victory was close. And after a third retirement in Monaco, he broke his duck with one of his greatest ever drives at a sodden Spanish GP.

Nearly 30 years on, Lewis Hamilton has a 100% finish record. He boasts two top-three results in his first six Ferrari weekends, winning the Sprint in China and placing third at the corresponding event in Miami.

But for the most part, Schumacher’s fellow seven-time world champion has been a major disappointment. Clearly the second-best Ferrari behind Charles Leclerc, he’s averaged seventh place in the Grand Prix format.

Ted Kravitz can’t remember Michael Schumacher ‘ever’ criticising Ferrari like Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton showed clear signs of frustration during the Miami GP weekend. While he’s taken responsibility for his own failings, he also expected more from a team that very nearly won the constructors’ championship last year.

Hamilton questioned Ferrari’s radio messages during Sprint qualifying, but his temper flared most of all in the race. He caught up to Leclerc on faster medium tyres and wanted to be released.

But the team delayed, and by the time they swapped the cars, he couldn’t make any meaningful progress. Hamilton cuttingly suggested they should have a ‘tea break’ while they made a decision.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 Show, Ted Kravitz said Hamilton reminded him of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on Sunday. But he can’t recall Schumacher treating the team so harshly.

“There’s a long history,” Kravitz said. “I think back to Alain Prost. I don’t remember Michael Schumacher ever criticising Ferrari.

“But Sebastian Vettel certainly did, Kimi Raikkonen did – it’s just that people didn’t think he was serious. There’s a long history of Ferrari drivers criticising Ferrari and it not working out well for them.”

Martin Brundle pinpoints the two words that really jumped out in Lewis Hamilton’s Miami radio

Hamilton downplayed his messages afterwards, insisting they were sarcastic. Team principal Fred Vasseur also dismissed any notion of tension.

But one journalist says Hamilton’s ‘tea break’ remark won’t go down well inside Ferrari. He’s still adjusting to a different style of communication after spending 12 years at Mercedes.

Kravitz’s colleague Martin Brundle was struck that Hamilton called Ferrari ‘you guys’. To him, that pointed to a lack of unity.

The next race is in Italy, with Hamilton racing in front of the Tifosi for the first time. That will expose Ferrari to even more pressure after their sharp regression over the winter.