Ferrari Boss Vasseur Rallies Behind Hamilton: ‘2,000% Support’ and a Stern Warning to Fer…read more
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has strongly defended Lewis Hamilton, emphasizing his unwavering support for the seven-time World Champion despite a rocky start to the 2025 Formula 1 season. Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari, following his high-profile switch from Mercedes at the end of 2024, has not yet delivered the expected results, but Vasseur remains confident in the British driver’s abilities and insists talk of a sharp decline in form is completely unfounded.
Hamilton has had a frustrating beginning to his Ferrari career, with inconsistent performances overshadowing the excitement of his move to the Italian team. Although he claimed an early win in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, his celebration was short-lived after being disqualified from the main race just a day later due to a technical infringement. In the five races so far this season, Hamilton hasn’t finished higher than fifth in the main events. Most recently, he ended the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in seventh place—over 30 seconds behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who secured Ferrari’s first podium finish of the year by placing third.
The disappointing results have clearly weighed on Hamilton. Over the race weekend in Jeddah, he appeared dejected and even made a self-critical remark after qualifying, joking that he “needed a brain.” Following the race, Hamilton was honest about his frustrations, saying, “I’ve just got to keep on taking a deep breath. I know that the fans aren’t happy. I’m sure the team is not happy. I know the bosses are not happy. And I’m not happy with my results.” He went on to predict that the 2025 season would be “painful” and admitted that there’s currently “no fix” to his difficulties.
Despite the grim outlook from Hamilton, Vasseur remains staunchly in his corner. The two share a long-standing relationship, having worked together during Hamilton’s 2006 GP2 (now Formula 2) championship-winning campaign under Vasseur’s ART Grand Prix team. Vasseur is also believed to have played a key role in securing Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari.
Addressing media including PlanetF1.com after the Jeddah race, Vasseur stressed his full backing for Hamilton, saying, “I will be 2,000 per cent behind him. I will give him all my support, and we’ll start working right away to find solutions.” He downplayed any concerns about Hamilton’s performance and pointed to encouraging moments in China and Bahrain as evidence that the potential remains. “The issue is not pace. It’s about balance and tyre management. We’re collectively working on it—Lewis and the team together.”
Vasseur also responded sharply to suggestions that Hamilton’s form has declined dramatically, calling such claims “fing bullt.” He warned against overreacting to a handful of races and urged for a more balanced perspective. “We’ve only had five races. In competition, there are always ups and downs. When we do well, we’re not instantly World Champions. And when we struggle, it doesn’t mean we’re lost. Look at Max Verstappen—he was seventh in Bahrain, yet he won in Japan and took pole in Saudi Arabia. It’s tight competition with cars separated by just a few tenths.”
Instead of making rash conclusions, Vasseur emphasized the importance of a step-by-step approach, just as the team adopted in 2024. “Last year we made gains by working on hundredths of a second at a time. That’s the mindset we need to maintain,” he said. “I’m not the kind of guy to declare we’re the best or the worst based on one race weekend. We need to stay calm and focused.”
Vasseur also took a more philosophical view on Hamilton’s current mood, interpreting his disappointment as a positive sign. “Lewis is clearly down because he wants more. And that’s how it should be. If he was content finishing seventh while his teammate’s on the podium, it would be a problem. He’s a racer. He’s a competitor. This frustration shows his hunger. Now, we must work together to move forward.”
In an effort to understand and resolve his challenges, Hamilton revealed he’s had to cancel personal plans this week to focus entirely on improving performance. He is expected to visit Ferrari’s Maranello factory ahead of the upcoming Miami Grand Prix on May 4. Leclerc has also confirmed he’ll be at the factory early in the week to assist with the team’s preparations.
As Ferrari aims to get back on the right track, the focus will now be on teamwork, problem-solving, and restoring confidence in Hamilton’s abilities, both within the team and across the F1 paddock.
