Lewis Hamilton in crisis, but Fred Vasseur defends him: “He’s frustrated, not unmotivated”

A low point in Hamilton’s Ferrari journey
Following the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, internal tension continues to build at Scuderia Ferrari regarding the situation of Lewis Hamilton. It is hardly surprising given the profile of the British driver—winner of seven world titles and one of the most successful and high-profile figures in Formula 1 history—who was signed over the winter in a highly publicised and financially significant deal. His comments after the race, suggesting that perhaps “the team should look for another driver,” were clearly made in the heat of the moment, driven by emotion and disappointment. Nevertheless, such words carry considerable weight and have inevitably drawn attention.

For the very first time since his debut at the Hungaroring in 2007, Lewis Hamilton finished a Hungarian Grand Prix outside the points. After this historically poor result, it was up to team principal Frédéric Vasseur to address the media and attempt to defuse the growing criticism surrounding the 40-year-old British driver. In the post-race press conference, Ferrari’s team boss took a clear stance in defense of Lewis Hamilton, expressing understanding for his frustration and confidence in his ability to return stronger after the summer break.

Fred Vasseur steps up to defend Hamilton
“How will I motivate Lewis Hamilton? I don’t need to motivate him,” said Frédéric Vasseur. “He is frustrated, yes—but not unmotivated. That’s a completely different situation. I understand the emotions involved. Sometimes, people focus too much on what a driver says while in the car or just after stepping out of it. But if you placed a microphone in front of any other athlete while they’re competing or right after their performance, I’m not sure they’d always say the right thing either. I completely understand the frustration—because we are all frustrated.”

Frédéric Vasseur continued by explaining the nature of Hamilton’s character and why his high expectations are part of what makes him such an accomplished driver: “Lewis Hamilton is a very demanding individual, and I believe that’s one of the key reasons why he is a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion. He sets the bar high—not only for the team, the car, the engineers, and the mechanics—but also for me personally. But most importantly, he sets extremely high standards for himself. That has always been a source of motivation and a critical factor behind his performance at the highest level. Naturally, it’s difficult when you are a seven-time World Champion and your teammate is starting from pole position, while you are eliminated in Q2.”

Confidence in a comeback
Frédéric Vasseur concluded with a message of reassurance for Ferrari fans and those questioning Hamilton’s mindset: “I can absolutely understand Lewis Hamilton’s frustration. It’s completely normal. But he will bounce back,” Fred Vasseur insisted. “We talked a lot before the race about how challenging it was going to be. We took a strategic gamble by starting on the hard tyres, but unfortunately, he got stuck in a DRS train. When he had clean air, though, his pace was actually quite strong. I’m confident that in a month’s time, Lewis will return ready to give his maximum.”

Supporters of the Scuderia will certainly be hoping that the post-summer break period brings renewed energy and competitiveness from the seven-time champion, as the team continues to pursue success in a tightly contested 2025 Formula 1 season.

Have your say on Fred Vasseur’s comments about Lewis Hamilton’s recent performance. Do you agree with his view? Let us know with a comment at the end of the article or on our social media channels: Facebook Group / Facebook Page / Instagram / X (former Twitter)