Fred Vasseur defends Lewis Hamilton’s silence: Why Ferrari’s boss values actions over TV interviews. Hamilton’s approach at Ferrari: “Quiet in interviews, focused on solving problems”.

In his first season with Ferrari, spanning 24 Grands Prix, Lewis Hamilton often experienced one of the lowest points of his Formula 1 career. The seven-time world champion did not secure a single pole position, failed to reach the podium (his best finish being fourth), and ended the championship in sixth place, 86 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.

The 2025 season was therefore a difficult one for the British driver, who frequently showed his frustration during post-qualifying interviews, sometimes facing journalists after being eliminated in Q1, or giving monosyllabic answers after races. Once the championship concluded, Sir Lewis even described how he intended to spend his winter before the 2026 pre-season tests: “I don’t want to talk to anyone, I’ll throw away my phone and be unreachable.”

However, this behavior did not reflect what Ferrari saw behind the scenes or at the garage, as stated by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur: “If you’re eliminated in Q1, I hope the driver is incredibly angry with themselves and with the team,” he said during Ferrari’s press conference in Maranello. “I don’t know if you journalists would prefer someone to go on TV and say: ‘No, everything’s fine, blah blah’ and all the usual nonsense. I fully respect the attitude of drivers who act this way. The most important thing for me is that someone works with the team. It’s much better to have someone who barely speaks on TV but goes back to the debrief, talks to the engineers, and looks for solutions. That’s the attitude Lewis showed, even during the difficult moments in the latter part of the season, and it gives the team positive energy.”

The bond between Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton therefore seems to be built on a mutual understanding of the high stakes involved in driving for Maranello. By shielding his driver from criticism regarding his media presence, Fred Vasseur is signaling that Ferrari values the raw, competitive fire that Lewis Hamilton still possesses. In the long road back to the top of the podium, it is this relentless search for solutions—rather than polished public relations—that will determine if the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership can truly deliver a world title.