Hamilton a ‘little ballerina’, says Stewart

SIR JACKIE STEWART has accused Lewis Hamilton of being a “little ballerina” and called on Mercedes to hit him with an ultimatum of “do it our way or be excused” from the team.

Stewart, Britain’s only other triple world champion, delivered his stinging verdict with Mercedes still deliberating as to what action they will take against Hamilton after he disobeyed orders in Abu Dhabi.

Mercedes were unhappy with Hamilton for backing teammate Nico Rosberg into the clutches of the chasing pack in a ploy, which they believe, could have cost the team victory.

“I think he (Hamilton) can be a little ballerina,” Stewart told the Press Association.

“Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda are not stupid people, and neither is the Mercedes chairman who often comes to grands prix.

You cannot threaten a multinational corporation of that size by one man who is just not doing it the right way. Give him the option of ‘either do it our way or you have to be excused’.”

Wolff, the Mercedes boss, suggested his team may take disciplinary action against Hamilton for ignoring two direct orders to speed up during Sunday’s season finale.

“Now, I am sorry, but when you are paid between 20 and 30 million pounds a year and you are told to do something you have got to do it. I don’t care who you are. It is not the first time he has gone against instructions, and if he is going to continue to do that they have the choice of dropping him,” Stewart added.

“Mercedes may just give him another heavy warning, but if they do that they would then have to say ‘this is what is going to happen the next time you disobey orders’. Another way would be to penalise him financially.” – The Independent