Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur has come out swinging in defense of star driver Lewis Hamilton, amid growing criticism over the seven-time world champion’s recent performances.
Hamilton, who made a high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari during the off-season, has had a subdued start to life in red. With just 15 points to his name after four races, the British driver currently sits eighth in the drivers’ standings—five points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The underwhelming start has sparked speculation that Hamilton, now 40, may be past his prime.
But Vasseur has strongly rejected that notion.
“You have to admit that some of the criticism has been… very harsh,” Vasseur told L’Équipe. “Thinking that Hamilton is worn out, out of date, is harsh. And what’s more, it’s false.”
He pointed to Hamilton’s performance in his final race with Mercedes last season as proof the champion’s fire still burns bright. “Look at his last race last year—he started 16th and finished fourth, overtaking his teammate. That’s not a driver who’s finished.”
Hamilton’s early days at Ferrari have been rocky, with the exception of a brief celebration in China last month when he claimed his first-ever sprint race victory. However, that success was quickly overshadowed after both he and Leclerc were disqualified from Sunday’s main event in Shanghai due to FIA regulation breaches.
Ferrari’s struggles extend beyond Hamilton. The team, which narrowly missed out on beating McLaren in last year’s constructors’ title race, now finds itself trailing not only Red Bull but also Mercedes in the early stages of 2025. With the Bahrain Grand Prix up next, the pressure is mounting for both drivers and the team to turn their season around.
Despite the criticism, Vasseur remains confident in Hamilton’s ability to rise again. “We knew it would take time to adapt. But Lewis is one of the greatest ever—his mentality, his hunger, it’s all still there. Don’t count him out.”
Leave a Reply