Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes engineer has accused him of not being as “mature” as George Russell and Nico Rosberg.

Lewis Hamilton has been criticised by a former Mercedes engineer over “letting himself go” in races unless he has a chance of winning. The Formula One superstar is gearing up to bid farewell to the Silver Arrows after over a decade, as he’s ready to don the iconic Ferrari red in 2025.

Despite a rough patch riddled with Red Bull’s supremacy, Hamilton – now 39 – refuses to fade away quietly, claiming victory in two of the last three grand prixs, and even snatching a win that saw George Russell disqualified from the Belgian GP. With a whopping 946 days spent chasing another win to bolster his huge tally, Hamilton’s recent successes signal a blaze of glory as he prepares to exit Mercedes.

However, Philipp Brandle, an aerodynamics engineer who worked alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, claims the Brit slacks off when victory seems out of reach, as per the Mirror. Speaking to Motorsport-Total, Brandle suggested: “What I think always sets him apart a little, both positively and negatively, is that when he knows he has a chance of winning something, he can drive at 200 per cent.

“But if he has the feeling that the car isn’t running well, that he somehow has no chance of winning the race, then unfortunately he lets himself go a bit, which is a shame. If he sees even the slightest chance, then he drives as well as ever, I think, like no other.”

While heaping praise on Hamilton’s innate driving skills, often compared to Michael Schumacher, Brandle has suggested the F1 icon doesn’t quite match up with his colleague George Russell and former team-mate Nico Rosberg in terms of technical expertise.

“What characterises Lewis is simply his incredible feel for the car,” he said. “I would say that in terms of the data and the technology, he is perhaps not as mature as other drivers, such as Nico Rosberg or now perhaps George Russell.”

Philipp Brandle worked with Hamilton as an aerodynamics engineer

But it’s Hamilton’s uncanny instinct for driving that really stands out, Brandle noted, echoing comments made previously about Schumacher. He added: “But he has an incredible feel for the car, just like Michael Schumacher was said to have back then.”

The engineer highlighted Hamilton’s remarkable sensitivity to his vehicle, remarking how: “He feels the car like no other. So if it feels like a screw is loose somewhere at 320 kilometres per hour, he can feel it right from the start.”

It remains to be seen who will take Hamilton’s place at Mercedes, with prodigy Kimi Antonelli tipped for a sensational F1 bow, potentially pairing up with Russell in the upcoming season. The young Italian is set to show his skills during a practice run at the esteemed Italian Grand Prix in Monza next Friday (August 30).