As questions swirl around Lewis Hamilton’s early form with Ferrari, team principal Fred Vasseur has stepped in to quiet the noise — urging fans and media alike to take a broader view.
The seven-time world champion has yet to make a serious impact in the 2025 season, while teammate Charles Leclerc has shown flashes of pace. But with Ferrari still searching for consistency, Vasseur is adamant: Hamilton is not to blame.
“Whether it’s Lewis, Charles, or Carlos last year — we’re pushing equally for all drivers,” Vasseur said on Friday during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. “Right now, we’re still finding the car’s balance. That’s the real challenge.”
Ferrari unveiled a major floor upgrade in Bahrain and has brought more updates to Jeddah. The team is optimistic, but still trailing the McLarens in outright pace. In FP2, Leclerc was fourth. Hamilton? Thirteenth.
When asked whether he’s satisfied with Hamilton’s performances so far, Vasseur played it cool.
“It’s a new car, and it’s not carried over from last season. So we’re all adapting. And while people may overreact from one result to the next, inside the team, we stay calm and focused.”
Different Drivers, Different Styles
Vasseur noted that Hamilton and Leclerc have very different driving styles and mindsets — and that’s a good thing.
“You don’t get two drivers with the same approach. They’re both competitors, both champions, and they push each other. That’s healthy for us.”
Hamilton brings two decades of experience and a fresh perspective after 12 seasons at Mercedes. That experience, Vasseur says, is already paying dividends.
“He’s added a lot of value — for the team, and even for Charles. They’re learning from each other. It goes both ways.”
The Bigger Picture: Tight Margins, Small Mistakes
Vasseur pointed to the increasingly tight nature of the F1 field — where the difference between fourth and tenth can be fractions of a second. In that context, Ferrari’s goal isn’t about instant glory, but steady refinement.
“It’s like cooking,” he smiled. “We’ve got the ingredients. Now we just need to mix them at the right time.”
Even dominant teams like Red Bull and McLaren have their off days, Vasseur noted. The key is consistency — and calm.
“You make one small mistake, and you lose five or six places. That doesn’t mean disaster. It just means the field is incredibly tight. We need to stay focused on performance, not panic over the headlines.”
Patience is the Game
Ferrari’s 2025 campaign hasn’t lit up the grid yet, but the signs of progress are there. For Hamilton, it’s a matter of adaptation — and for the team, it’s about timing.
Vasseur’s message is clear: Trust the process, stay grounded, and don’t count them out just yet.
Leave a Reply