Scuderia Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur has stepped in to defend Lewis Hamilton after the British driver showed visible frustration during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Ferrari’s first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season has fallen well short of expectations, and once again hopes are being pushed forward to the following year. Lewis Hamilton’s reaction reflected this disappointment, but Fred Vasseur was quick to back his driver and underline the progress the team is making.
Lewis Hamilton out in Q2 as Charles Leclerc takes pole
The qualifying session in Budapest highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the Ferrari drivers. Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q2 and finished in 12th place, while his teammate Charles Leclerc went on to secure pole position. However, it is important to note that Lewis Hamilton was only a fraction away from making the cut into Q3. In fact, at the moment of his elimination, he was running very close to Charles Leclerc’s times, but the Monegasque advanced and later benefited from a dramatic shift in track conditions that helped him achieve pole position.
Fred Vasseur defends Lewis Hamilton and stresses unity
Lewis Hamilton’s frustration was clear, but so was the disappointment within the Ferrari camp. Addressing the situation, Frédéric Vasseur tried to show support for the seven-time world champion. The relationship between Hamilton and Fred Vasseur goes back well before Formula 1, and this bond is now seen as a key factor in rebuilding team harmony. Charles Leclerc has also worked with the French manager in the past and has expressed his approval of the Frenchman’s leadership, a sign that the team is striving for unity during this difficult period.
When asked by RacingNews365 about the Briton’s mindset, Fred Vasseur explained: “I don’t need to motivate Lewis. Honestly, he is frustrated, not demotivated. That is a completely different situation and I can perfectly understand it. Sometimes we tend to comment on what drivers say over the radio, but if you were to put microphones on football players, I don’t think the situation would look any better.”
Comments after the race
Fred Vasseur also addressed Lewis Hamilton’s post-session remark in which the British driver suggested Ferrari “should change driver” following Charles Leclerc’s pole position: “Sometimes they make comments as soon as they get out of the car, and I can understand the frustration. After a race or a qualifying session you are very disappointed, and the reaction can be harsh. But we all know that we are pushing in the right direction.”
Lewis Hamilton close to Charles Leclerc despite elimination
In another interview, Ferrari’s Team Principal pointed out that Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying lap in Hungary was actually very close to Leclerc’s pace, even at the point of elimination. The race itself was then affected by traffic and by a strategy call that complicated the early phases. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion has not yet delivered at his highest level in Ferrari colours, but the team insists it is working hard to provide him with the tools he needs to unlock his full potential.
As Ferrari looks to recover from another underwhelming start to a season, the message from Fred Vasseur is one of patience and perspective. While Lewis Hamilton’s frustration is evident, the team remains convinced that progress is being made, and that both drivers can still play a decisive role in shaping Ferrari’s future.
Leave a Reply