"I'm going to go further." Hamilton's spurs to Ferrari that prevented Alonso and Vettel from winning.

It's only been six months, but Lewis Hamilton is showing signs of restlessness. He appears to be putting himself in a constructive position, but the individual seems to be clashing with the system. Like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel in their time. In a cellophane wrapper, yes, but the Briton hinted at Spa at a position that wasn't accepted by them at the time, given their frustration with Ferrari's performance and culture.

A world champion is, by nature, a born winner. Impatient and demanding, the individual manages his own resources, driven by a relentless motivation that pursues immediate results, although dependent on a system where other collective rules prevail. Hamilton seems to be leaving some clues in this regard. Although the Scuderia doesn't usually accept the driver trying to climb onto the Prancing Horse, no matter how much of a world champion he is. At least that's historically the case.

"Structural adjustments?"

“Throughout the year, after the first few races, I prepared a comprehensive document for the team. During this break (since Silverstone), I sent two more documents, and now I want to address them. Some are structural adjustments we need to make as a team to improve in all the areas we want to improve . ” In other words, Hamilton is telling Ferrari how it needs to modify its operation and structure.

The Briton explained the meetings held in recent weeks with Fred Vasseur and other technical managers. "I talked about the engine for next year, the front suspension, the rear suspension, things they wanted, and the issues I'm having with the car. I sent documents. And the other was really about the car: the current issues I'm having, some things I do want to incorporate into next year's car , and others I need to work on to change." So far, so good, with that role of encouragement and motivation.

Although it's also about empowerment and personal elevation, perhaps due to the legitimacy that titles confer. Asked again about the above, Hamilton surprised everyone with the "touch" he brought to the Italian team, something unusual for a driver in red these days. "The passion is unparalleled. But it's a huge organization, and there are many components that are constantly evolving , and not all of them are working perfectly . Ultimately , it's the reason the team hasn't had the success I think it deserves," Hamilton said, with a sense of luck that has completely atoned for Ferrari over the past fifteen years.

"I refuse to let that happen."

“I think it's my job to challenge absolutely every area, to challenge everyone in the team, especially those at the top and making the decisions. If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they've had incredible drivers: Kimi, Fernando, Sebastian—they're all world champions. Yet, they haven't won a world championship . And, for me, I refuse to let that happen. So I'm going to push the envelope.” Ouch.

But Hamilton rose above his current team with a certain degree of reproach, like an enthusiastic new civil servant who wants to change the pace and organization of the ministry in his first weeks on the job. “I’ve been very fortunate to have had experience in two other great teams. Although things are different because there’s a different culture, I believe that if you follow the same path every time , you get the same results . So I’m just challenging certain things.”

“We've improved in many areas. In marketing, in everything we offer sponsors, in the way the engineers continue to work. There's still a lot to improve, but they've been very receptive. Ultimately, I'm just trying to create allies within the organization and encourage them. I'm here to win. I don't have as much time as I do now (Kimi Antonelli , sitting next to him at the press conference), so it's time for the truth.” How would Luca de Montezemolo, Sergio Marchionne, Mauricio Arrivabene, or Mattia Binotto have responded to such words?

"All the great champions who have driven for Ferrari have always been asked to put the team's interests before their own." Ferrari's great historical tenet was enunciated by Luca de Montezemolo in 2013, with Alonso as the recipient . "This is the time to remain calm, avoid controversy, and show humility and determination by contributing our part, supporting the team and its people both on and off the track." This was the president's response to Fernando Alonso's criticism after a grueling Hungarian Grand Prix . He had previously been asked about his birthday present, and the Spaniard requested: "A car like the others." That stung.

Hamilton is in his first year with Ferrari, but Alonso had already reached his boiling point with two lost championships, the last one in 2012 being particularly painful. After an extraordinary performance on the personal front, the Italian team lost its momentum with Red Bull after the summer. In those final months, there were also internal frictions that became public, with Alonso questioning Ferrari's operations.

“It was very discouraging for the team. He was fantastic in the car, probably even the best. But that attitude was the reason I started to consider Sebastian (Vettel) as a better solution for us,” Montezemolo explained at the end of that year. Vettel would fall into the same trap.

"Let him focus on the main thing"

In his second year, also without results or victories, Vettel was also put in his place by the Italian team's 2016 boss, Mauricio Arrivabene . "Sebastian needs to focus on the car. He's a person who gives a lot of effort, and sometimes that means he's interested in a little bit of everything. Sometimes you have to refocus him, remind him to focus on the main thing."

Obsessive in his dedication and in all areas of performance, "stubborn as a mule," Arrivabene said upon the German's arrival at the team. His words suggested an attitude of internal discontent on the part of Ferrarii, and especially his attempt to influence performance areas within the team structure, a similar attitude to that publicly displayed by Hamilton at Spa . Whether something similar will be said behind closed doors to Lewis Hamilton remains to be seen. Or perhaps, "This isn't our Ferrari anymore, it's been replaced."