Ferrari team principal goes silent on key topic following Lewis Hamilton’s tough Las Vegas outing. Ferrari chief refuses to go into detail on a pivotal issue after bleak Vegas race.

Fred Vasseur refuses to engage with key questions as Ferrari’s difficult 2025 season intensifies

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has found himself repeatedly defending both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as the Maranello squad endures one of its most complicated campaigns of recent years. After coming agonisingly close to winning the constructors’ championship in 2024, the Scuderia now face a real battle simply to remain inside the top three of the standings during a season marked by inconsistency, strategic misfires, and a car that continues to lack predictability.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix served as another painful reminder of how much ground Ferrari must recover. Max Verstappen claimed victory under the Nevada lights, and following the double disqualification of McLaren, both Mercedes drivers inherited podium positions—deepening the sense that Ferrari’s rivals are pulling away at a crucial stage of the season.

Charles Leclerc once again came agonisingly close to adding another podium to his tally, missing out by just a tenth of a second after the penalty applied to Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging recovery drive from the back of the grid, salvaging only P8 despite an excellent launch and early-race progress. The seven-time world champion appeared visibly drained during his post-race media commitments, prompting questions about his morale and his immediate Formula 1 trajectory.

According to multimedia journalist, content creator and broadcaster Julianne Cerasoli, the atmosphere inside the Ferrari garage reflects a combination of frustration and uncertainty. Cerasoli suggested that Fred Vasseur has become increasingly reluctant to comment directly on the race pace of Lewis Hamilton, particularly after a weekend in Las Vegas that highlighted many of the structural issues affecting Ferrari’s SF-25.

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur avoids explaining Lewis Hamilton’s race pace

While reviewing the Las Vegas race weekend, Cerasoli observed that analysis tools suggested Lewis Hamilton should have been quick enough to overtake Nico Hülkenberg in the closing laps. However, the expected pace never materialised, raising further questions about Ferrari’s tyre usage, energy deployment, and the overall setup choices that continue to limit Hamilton’s ability to extract consistent performance.

Cerasoli explained that post-race discussions with Fred Vasseur have become increasingly difficult, noting that the Ferrari boss prefers to steer conversations away from Lewis Hamilton’s lack of late-race speed. Instead, Fred Vasseur often redirects attention toward broader topics, leaving observers with few concrete explanations for the Briton’s struggles in Las Vegas. The seven-time world champion was reportedly unhappy with the outcome, as another difficult weekend added to a run of disappointing results despite his growing comfort with the Ferrari machinery.

The situation has contributed to an atmosphere of concern within the team, as Lewis Hamilton’s run of form raises questions ahead of the final phase of the championship. With just a handful of Grands Prix remaining, the outlook for the British driver appears increasingly uncertain.

Radio frustration and technical concerns expose Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 challenges

Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have spent much of the season expressing dissatisfaction with the SF-25, insisting that the car does not behave in a way that allows them to consistently maximise its performance. Ferrari’s mid-season upgrade packages expanded the working range of the car but failed to deliver the outright speed needed to challenge Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes on a regular basis.

Lewis Hamilton added an unwanted statistic in Las Vegas, becoming the first Ferrari driver since Giancarlo Fisichella to qualify last without being hindered by penalties or mechanical issues. Despite a strong opening lap, his progress stalled rapidly. After his final pit stop, he began to slip away from Sauber driver Nico Hülkenberg while simultaneously fending off a determined attack from Fernando Alonso. The unusual lack of pace and the defensive driving required to hold position prevented any chance of climbing higher.

Throughout the race, Lewis Hamilton’s radio messages highlighted deeper issues. He expressed concerns about his brake performance and questioned the timing of his pit stop strategy, suggesting that the early call may have compromised his long-run potential. These glimpses into his cockpit frustrations underline the scale of the challenges facing Ferrari as they attempt to stabilise their 2025 campaign.

The most striking statistic is that Lewis Hamilton has been comprehensively outperformed by Charles Leclerc in both qualifying sessions and Grands Prix across the season. With the points difference now mathematically insurmountable, Lewis Hamilton can no longer surpass Charles Leclerc in the drivers’ championship. As a result, the upcoming winter break will be critical for the British driver. A complete reset—both technically and mentally—may be required if he intends to return to his peak form when the new season begins.

For Ferrari, the conclusion of the year presents an opportunity to confront the weaknesses of the SF-25, address operational shortcomings, and provide both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc with the tools they need to mount a genuine challenge in 2026. Until then, the scrutiny surrounding the team, and the drivers, is only likely to intensify.