Fred Vasseur disputes Lewis Hamilton’s view on Ferrari’s key issue following F1 Montreal GP. After Ferrari's disappointing Canadian GP, Fred Vasseur dismissed Lewis Hamilton’s concerns about car updates.

Vasseur Rejects Hamilton’s Claims About Ferrari’s Core Issues After Canadian GP Setback

If Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is indeed fighting to secure his future at the helm of the Maranello-based team, then the outcome of the Canadian Grand Prix likely did little to strengthen his position. The race in Montreal marked another missed opportunity, not only in terms of results but also in addressing growing concerns about the team’s direction and performance in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

George Russell delivered Mercedes their first win of the year, becoming the third constructor to claim victory in 2025. He shared the podium with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and his young teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished a distant fifth and sixth, respectively. With that result, Ferrari now holds the unwanted distinction of being the highest-ranked team in the Constructors’ Championship yet to win a race this season—a position that continues to cast doubt on their competitiveness and development strategy.

During the race, Lewis Hamilton expressed frustration over persistent brake issues via team radio, which significantly hindered his performance. To make matters worse, he struck a groundhog during the race, an incident that caused floor damage and further compromised his car’s pace compared to Charles Leclerc’s. These setbacks added to a growing list of challenges Ferrari faces as the season progresses.

With the title increasingly slipping from reach, Ferrari now faces a critical strategic decision: whether to continue pushing for performance gains in 2025 or shift focus toward preparing for the significant regulation changes coming in 2026. This dilemma appears to be a source of internal disagreement, particularly between Lewis Hamilton and team principal Fred Vasseur, as the two seem to hold differing views on what is truly limiting Ferrari’s progress.

Fred Vasseur Believes Ferrari’s Problems Go Beyond Updates After Disappointing Montreal Outing

Following the Canadian Grand Prix, the French manager addressed the media, including Motorsport Italia, where he responded to suggestions that Lewis Hamilton had publicly voiced concerns about the lack of immediate car updates. Vasseur confirmed that new developments were on the way but emphasized that he did not consider the absence of updates to be the team’s core issue.

He argued that achieving top sector times—such as setting the fastest first sector at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve—demonstrated that the SF-25 has underlying pace and that consistent updates alone wouldn’t solve Ferrari’s inconsistency. Fred Vasseur stressed that the team should focus internally, as their real problem lay in execution and operational cleanliness over the race weekend, rather than simply lagging behind in bringing upgrades.

Meanwhile, Hamilton is still awaiting a key technical change to the car—an update to the rear suspension—which he believes would allow him to run a lower ride height. This modification has been unavailable to him since his disqualification in Shanghai, with Monaco being the only exception. The British driver is convinced that such a change could significantly improve his feel and performance in the SF-25.

Fred Vasseur, for his part, will be eager to see fewer errors from his drivers. Charles Leclerc’s misstep in qualifying meant a fourth-row start, which ultimately compromised his chances of fighting for the podium despite having competitive race pace. The team principal’s remarks about needing to clean up operational execution reflect a broader concern about maximizing the car’s potential—something Ferrari failed to do in Canada.

Speculation Surrounds Vasseur’s Future Amid Ferrari’s Winless Campaign

As Ferrari continues to struggle for a breakthrough victory, speculation regarding Fred Vasseur’s long-term future has begun to circulate. Prior to the Canadian Grand Prix, media reports in Italy hinted that pressure was mounting on the Frenchman. Nico Rosberg also mentioned that Charles Leclerc had spoken to him positively about Fred Vasseur’s leadership—yet doubts remained.

When asked directly whether he felt secure in his role and supported by the team’s upper management, the Frenchman made it clear that, from his perspective, there was no issue. He dismissed rumors about instability, insisting that internal trust remained intact. According to him, the team must prioritize unity and a calm, focused approach if they want to move forward.

Fred Vasseur explained that he had no interest in engaging in internal or external conflicts, reiterating the importance of fighting as one cohesive group. He acknowledged that no team delivers a perfect weekend every time, and pointed to Mercedes as a recent example. Despite their struggles in previous races, they did not overreact but instead continued developing and working with purpose—an approach that ultimately led to their Canadian GP triumph.

The Ferrari boss emphasized that his team must adopt the same mentality. He reminded critics that Ferrari still sits second in the championship standings and that the situation is far from catastrophic. For Fred Vasseur, staying committed to development and internal consistency will be essential if Ferrari hopes to end their winless streak and prepare for a stronger 2026 Formula 1 season.