Ferrari boss understands Hamilton’s ‘outburst’: “Saying he is worn out is malicious as well as false”. Lewis Hamilton hit back at the criticism he received following the season opener in Australia.

The team principal defends his driver
“The first race was difficult, but obviously, many people underestimated how complicated it is to join a new team, adapt, settle in, and understand each other in communication. The amount of criticism and people talking nonsense was incredible. People with no experience.” This is how Lewis Hamilton responded sharply to his critics after winning the Sprint in China, marking both his and Ferrari’s first victory in this race format.

In an interview with the French sports daily L’Equipe, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur emphasized that Lewis Hamilton’s reaction is understandable, especially since the criticism was both unwarranted and premature, as the former Mercedes driver demonstrated in China. “I don’t know anything about it,” said Fred Vasseur, “but there’s no doubt that some of the criticism was too harsh. Saying that Hamilton is dull or worn out is malicious as well as false. Just look at the last weekend in Abu Dhabi last year, where he started sixteenth and finished fourth, overtaking his teammate on the final lap.”

In any case, Lewis Hamilton’s first pole and first victory with Ferrari already on his second attempt – even if both were in a ‘Sprint’ – put a significant checkmark on Frederic Vasseur’s roadmap: “For sure, we will no longer have to answer questions about Lewis Hamilton’s first pole or first victory. The media echo chamber of F1 is enormous; it’s great to be applauded, and at the same time, it’s normal to receive criticism when things don’t go well.” – the French manager concluded.