Stefano Domenicali urges Fred Vasseur to block out pressure and stay focused to help Lewis Hamilton succeed at Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, the current team principal at Ferrari, understands Lewis Hamilton’s capabilities on the racetrack better than most. Long before Hamilton began his Formula 1 career with McLaren in 2007, Fred Vasseur had already worked with the British driver during his dominant campaign in GP2 with ART Grand Prix. Nearly twenty years later, the two have reunited at Ferrari under very different circumstances, but the start of their journey together has not mirrored the success of their earlier collaboration.
The Briton’s much-anticipated switch from Mercedes to Ferrari hasn’t delivered immediate results. While there was a brief spark of optimism after the seven-time world champion clinched victory in the Sprint Race in China from pole position, it proved short-lived. The main race brought disappointment, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified due to technical infringements. Moreover, Hamilton has openly admitted he’s still acclimating to Ferrari’s internal systems and methodologies, making the adaptation phase more complex than expected.
The Briton made the move to Ferrari with dreams of following in the footsteps of icons like Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda—champions who added to their legacies in red. While such ambitions seem out of reach in 2025, Formula 1 Group CEO and former Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has offered his perspective on how Hamilton and Ferrari can navigate the challenging road ahead.
Stefano Domenicali’s message to Fred Vasseur and Hamilton: block out pressure and focus on the details
Speaking during an interview on the Italian radio program La Politica nel Pallone for Rai Gr Parlamento, Stefano Domenicali touched on various topics, including the future of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. But it was his insight on Ferrari’s current trajectory that drew attention. When asked about the team’s underwhelming start to the season, Stefano Domenicali refrained from criticism, instead emphasizing that Ferrari appears closer to the front-runners than some might think.
He revealed that he regularly communicates with Fred Vasseur and offered the Ferrari boss a singular piece of advice: to keep working with determination, without allowing the immense pressure that naturally accompanies the Ferrari role to cloud his judgment. Stefano Domenicali conveyed his belief that Ferrari has what it takes to return to winning form within the year, highlighting how the minimal performance gaps across the field mean that even the smallest improvements could shift the balance.
The former Ferrari executive also shared a personal conversation he had with Hamilton, noting that the British driver had come to understand the immense significance of representing Ferrari. The F1 CEO pointed out that wearing the red suit carries a unique weight, even for a champion of Hamilton’s caliber.
Ferrari still searching for the right formula to unlock Hamilton’s full potential
Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing relationship with Mercedes-powered teams has made the transition to Ferrari all the more challenging. From winning his first title with McLaren in 2008 to capturing six more with Mercedes, Hamilton has grown accustomed to a particular technical environment. Now, he finds himself adapting to a different set of tools, procedures, and philosophies in Maranello.
The performance gap between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is currently noticeable, and insiders suggest it stems from subtle but critical differences in their comfort with the SF-25. After the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton pointed to Ferrari’s braking system as an example—while seemingly minor, even slight discomfort in such areas can translate into lost tenths over a lap.
Rwandan and Belgian racing driver and television presenter Naomi Schiff noted that Lewis Hamilton has not yet found the perfect setup for his new car. The Maranello team’s disqualification in China, caused by the floor being too low, may have further disrupted efforts to fine-tune the balance and configuration of Hamilton’s car.
Still, Ferrari showed signs of improvement in Sakhir, where both cars secured their best finishes of the season so far. The result suggested progress behind the scenes, even if the overall pace and balance still fall short of championship-winning standards. As the season continues, Ferrari’s ability to evolve quickly will be critical—not just for Hamilton’s success, but for the team’s broader ambitions of returning to the top of Formula 1.
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