But former star has backed Hamilton to show his true pace

FORMER Formula One star Arturio Merzario claims 90 per cent of Ferrari staff did not want Lewis Hamilton to join.

Merzario is famous as one of the drivers who pulled Niki Lauda from his burning car at the Nurburgring in 1976.

2

A former F1 star has claimed 90 per cent of Ferrari staff did not want Lewis Hamilton to joinCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Italian, 82, made his F1 debut for Ferrari and still has connections with the Maranello team.

And he believes signing the struggling seven-time world champ Hamilton was simply a “commercial operation” for Ferrari.

He said: “In my opinion, Hamilton’s arrival at Maranello was a commercial operation.

“From what I know, 90 per cent of the employees didn’t approve of this decision, and then, when the driver doesn’t feel valued or an integral part of the group, he loses motivation.

“Why go crazy trying to gain three-tenths of a second when you’re not going to get off the third row?”

Hamilton trails team-mate Charles Leclerc by 42 points in the driver’s standings and has still not stood on the podium in 14 races with Ferrari since his move.

Before the summer break, he tore himself apart after qualifying in 12th and finishing 12th at the Hungarian Grand Prix last time out.

He called himself “useless” and told Ferrari to “change driver” – but Merzario believes there is more to come from the British 40-year-old.

He added: “This isn’t over. He’s waiting for the right opportunity.

“He’s only going to take risks when necessary, not for eighth place.

“Also because if he wanted to leave, he’d find another team.

“Hamilton has already proven his worth, he’s not in Charles’s position, he has to prove he’s a champion.”