Vasseur staunchly backs Hamilton following Saudi GP challenges
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Synopsis
Ferrari's Fred Vasseur has defended Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time champion faced criticism for his performance at the Saudi Arabian GP, labeling it as nonsense. Vasseur emphasized his unwavering support and commitment to help Hamilton find solutions as they navigate the early season together.
Key Takeaways
- Vasseur expresses strong support for Hamilton.
- Criticism of Hamilton’s form is dismissed as nonsense.
- Vasseur believes the potential is still there for Hamilton.
- Hamilton is struggling with adapting to the Ferrari SF-25.
- Vasseur emphasizes the nature of competition in Formula 1.
New Delhi, April 21 (NationPress) Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has strongly defended Lewis Hamilton following the seven-time world champion's frustrating outing at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, labeling the criticism of the British driver’s early-season performance as “nonsense” during a passionate post-race statement.
Hamilton, who made a dramatic transition from Mercedes to Ferrari this season, finished seventh in Jeddah — a result that failed to meet expectations and was further highlighted by team-mate Charles Leclerc’s podium finish. The Monegasque qualified fourth and achieved Ferrari’s first Grand Prix podium of the year with an impressive performance, securing third place.
Hamilton’s response after the race was disheartened. Describing the experience as “terrible,” the 40-year-old acknowledged that the remainder of his season “is going to be tough” — a brutally candid self-assessment of his current stint with the team.
However, Vasseur, clearly frustrated by what he perceived to be exaggerated media criticism, was quick to support his star driver.
“I will be 2000 percent behind him,” Vasseur told reporters. “I will provide him with support, and we will begin tomorrow morning to find solutions and reasons to address the issues.”
Despite Hamilton’s less-than-stellar results — aside from a Sprint victory in China, he has not finished higher than sixth in a full-length race — Vasseur remains optimistic that the potential is present.
“The potential is definitely there,” he emphasized. “We just need to fine-tune the balance. Collectively — Lewis and our team — we are facing challenges with how the car manages the tires. But this is not a crisis.”
The Frenchman’s demeanor shifted from calm analysis to irritation when pressed further about Hamilton’s performance dip.
“It’s not catastrophic,” he retorted. “We’ve completed five races so far. I know you want a sensational headline for tomorrow — ‘Fred said this’.
“Ultimately, we are in competition. There are ups and downs. When we’re performing well, we’re not champions. When we’re struggling, we’re not out of the race. It’s simply competition.”
Vasseur also pointed out the disparity in how Hamilton’s performance is scrutinized compared to reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull star struggled in Bahrain with a sixth-place finish but rebounded with pole and a P2 finish behind Oscar Piastri in Jeddah.
“I’m not sure you reached the same conclusions when Max was seventh,” Vasseur observed. “The competition is extremely close — just a few tenths separate ten cars. Max won in Japan but was 30 seconds behind Piastri in Bahrain. This is the nature of contemporary Formula 1.”
“We simply need to remain composed. I don’t care what conclusions you want to draw. At Ferrari, we are staying focused — hundredths of seconds at a time.”
Hamilton has been candid about the difficulties of adjusting to a new car and environment after spending 12 years with Mercedes. The Ferrari SF-25, while fast in Leclerc’s hands, seems to pose a conundrum for Hamilton, particularly regarding tire management and qualifying balance.
Nonetheless, Vasseur dismissed any notion that this season is merely a transition for the British driver.
“This is not a transitional phase,” he stated firmly. “Of course he feels down. When your teammate is on the podium and you’re not, it stings. However, I view it as a positive. If he weren’t upset about this, that would be a bigger issue.”
“He’s a competitor. He wants to win. That frustration indicates he’s still hungry — and that’s precisely the type of driver I want on the team.”
After five rounds, Hamilton is 68 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri and already faces a formidable challenge. However, Ferrari remains in second place in the Constructors’ standings, primarily due to Leclerc’s consistent performance and a solid collection of Sprint points.
While questions continue to arise regarding Hamilton’s future competitiveness at Ferrari, Vasseur’s public display of support — expletives included — signals that the team is not panicking. At least not yet.
“We’re a team,” Vasseur concluded. “We experience weekends where we struggle and others where we excel. The only way forward is to react together — and that’s exactly what we will do.”
