Lewis Hamilton 'not as mature' as George Russell as former Mercedes engineer makes accusation

Lewis Hamilton is in his last season at Mercedes where he currently partners fellow Brit George Russell and the seven-time F1 champion was branded 'not as mature' as his team-mate

Lewis Hamilton has been accused of a lack of competitiveness when he doesn't think he can win a race, according to his former Mercedes engineer Philipp Brandle.

The seven-time Formula One champion will end his 11-year association with the Silver Arrows at the close of the season upon joining Ferrari in 2025.

The 39-year-old is certainly enjoying a stormer of a swansong season with Mercedes, having won two of the last three races, with the most recent triumph coming at the expense of Russell who was disqualified from the Belgian Grand Prix.

Hamilton's return to winning form comes after two winless seasons during Red Bull's domination on the track where he went through a 946-day streak without adding to his record amount of race triumphs.

Brandle, who worked with Hamilton as an aerodynamics engineer at Mercedes, sensationally claimed that the F1 icon "lets himself go a bit" when he has no chance of winning a race.

He told German outlet Motorsport-Total: "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 complimenting Hamilton's natural talent, which he likened to Michael Schumacher, Brandle claimed the Brit is not as mature as Russell and former team-mate Nico Rosberg when it comes to delving into the data and technology of the car.

"What characterises Lewis is simply his incredible feel for the car," he explained. "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. But he has an incredible feel for the car, just like Michael Schumacher was said to have back then.

"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." Speculation surrounding Hamilton's replacement at Mercedes has been strife with teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli projected to make his F1 debut alongside Russell next season. The Italian is set to take to the tracks on home soil in a practice session at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza next Friday.