Ruthless’ Lewis Hamilton as Red Bull figure busts World Champion ‘fallacy

Being “ruthless” is a “necessity” to be a Formula 1 great, with Lewis Hamilton among those bringing out that side when needed.

That is the claim put forward by Red Bull senior mechanic and author Calum Nicholas, who firmly believes that the “nice guy persona” is not a winning one.

Lewis Hamilton Showed ‘Ruthless’ Side Like Fellow Champions

Lewis Hamilton has firmly established himself as the most successful Formula 1 driver in history, holding records for the most race wins (105), pole positions (104), and podium finishes (202). His seven World Championships place him alongside Michael Schumacher at the top of the all-time standings.

Despite his dominance, former F1 driver and 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard recently noted that Hamilton differs from other F1 legends like Schumacher due to his relatively controversy-free path to success. Coulthard emphasized that while many great champions have faced scrutiny over their aggressive tactics, Hamilton has built his legacy with clean racing and sportsmanship.

“Lewis’ legacy as a grand prix driver, as a winning machine, as a World Champion, is one you dream about for your son or daughter. He would make any parent proud,” Coulthard told PlanetF1.com.

Beyond his on-track achievements, Hamilton has also been a driving force for diversity and inclusion in motorsport. His influence extends beyond racing, as he continues to advocate for positive change both within and outside of Formula 1.

Michael [Schumacher] and Ayrton [Senna] had a lot of controversy through their careers, and I say that with tremendous respect for both of them. With Lewis, there have been very few of those moments.”

But, in Nicholas’ opinion, a Formula 1 driver must be ready to rustle a few feathers if they want to make it to the top, and he does not believe Hamilton can be considered an anomaly in that regard.

Throughout that year with Nico Rosberg, you know, ultimately, Nico came out on top because he did what he had to do. It wasn’t popular. There were tense moments in the garage because of it. But ultimately, that’s what champions do, they do what they need to to win.

“And I think that to sort of bash that and say, ‘Oh, well, you know, you could have been a bit kinder here’. Come on man, we’re here to win. I’m not here to make friends.

“Sometimes, it’s nice to have friends and for people to appreciate you. But ultimately, if you’re not here to win, and that sort of nice guy persona is more important to you, then you’re not going to win.”

Hamilton called time on his record-breaking Mercedes career in order to join Ferrari from F1 2025, as he sets about trying to deny Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a fifth successive World Championship