Ferrari Chief Strongly Backs Lewis Hamilton Amid Sl…..read more
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has come out with a passionate defense of Lewis Hamilton, strongly refuting claims that the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion’s performance is on a steep decline. Vasseur made it clear that he continues to fully support Hamilton, even as the British driver endures a rocky beginning to his much-anticipated debut season with the Scuderia.
After making a headline-grabbing switch from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, Hamilton has so far struggled to find his rhythm with the iconic Italian team. Despite the hype surrounding his move — one that was seen as a major coup for Ferrari — the results have yet to meet expectations. In his first five Grands Prix driving for the Prancing Horse, Hamilton has not managed to finish higher than fifth on a race Sunday.
Vasseur, however, remains adamant that Hamilton’s early results do not reflect his true capabilities or commitment. Speaking firmly in defense of his driver, he dismissed negative speculation as groundless. “It’s fing bullt,” he said when asked whether Hamilton was no longer the force he once was. He emphasized that not only does he continue to believe in Hamilton’s talent, but that his support for the Briton is unwavering — even stronger than before. “I’m 2,000 per cent behind Lewis,” Vasseur asserted.
The Ferrari boss also responded to rumors suggesting unrest within the Ferrari camp, specifically regarding the driver’s performance and potential dissatisfaction among the team’s top brass. He downplayed these reports, calling them sensationalized and misleading. According to Vasseur, while Hamilton’s start hasn’t been ideal, the situation is being evaluated internally with patience and perspective, not panic or blame.
Hamilton’s first five races in red have painted a mixed picture. Although he scored an early triumph with a win in the sprint race during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend — his first competitive victory since 2021 — that high point was quickly overshadowed. Hamilton was disqualified from the main race in China the following day due to a technical infraction, losing what could have been a morale-boosting result.
In other rounds, Hamilton has struggled to match the pace of his team-mate, Charles Leclerc. Most notably, in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton finished seventh and was over half a minute behind Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s first podium of the season by finishing third. These results have led to growing criticism from pundits and fans alike, with some questioning whether the 40-year-old still has what it takes to perform at the highest level.
Despite these concerns, Vasseur has stressed the importance of patience, pointing to the complexity of adapting to a new car, new team dynamics, and the evolving nature of the 2025 technical regulations. He suggested that Hamilton is still going through an adjustment phase and that the team is working hard behind the scenes to get the most out of the car and the driver.
“People love to jump to conclusions,” Vasseur said. “But we know what we are working on, and we know what Lewis brings to this team. His feedback, his experience, his determination — these things don’t vanish overnight.”
While the pressure is undeniably high, both within Ferrari and among its global fanbase, Vasseur’s comments were a clear signal that the team is not about to give up on its marquee signing. Hamilton himself has remained composed in his public statements, acknowledging the challenges but maintaining optimism that the tide will turn as the season progresses.
With a long calendar still ahead, Ferrari and Hamilton have time to turn things around. Vasseur’s strong endorsement of Hamilton makes it evident that, internally at least, the focus remains on collaboration and continuous improvement rather than finger-pointing or premature judgments.
As the F1 2025 season moves into its next phase, all eyes will be on how Hamilton responds to the early setbacks — and whether the faith shown in him by Ferrari’s leadership will ultimately be rewarded.
