Vasseur Calms Hamilton's 'Worst Season Ever' Comments After Vegas Gloom

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has responded to Lewis Hamilton's downbeat remarks after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, urging everyone to 'calm down' following the seven-time world champion's assertion that his season has yielded 'zero' positives and is his 'worst ever.' Hamilton, currently without a podium in his Ferrari debut year and 74 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc, finished 10th (later 8th) in Vegas after starting from the back, appearing emotionally drained.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was touted as a fresh start, but his mounting frustrations could impact team morale and his performance as he continues to struggle. Vasseur's intervention aims to prevent a potential crisis of confidence and maintain focus within the team as the season approaches its critical final races.

The details:

• Hamilton's Frustration: After starting from P20 due to a disastrous wet qualifying session in Las Vegas, Hamilton fought back to finish P10 (later P8 after McLaren's disqualifications). Post-race, he expressed extreme disappointment, calling his season the 'worst ever' and stating there were 'zero' positives.
• Vasseur's Reassurance: Fred Vasseur acknowledged Hamilton's emotional reaction, attributing it to the immediate post-race adrenaline. He emphasized that drivers often speak harshly in the 'TV pen' before fully processing events.
• Focus on the Future: Vasseur highlighted Hamilton's strong pace in FP1 and FP2 in Las Vegas, suggesting that a better qualifying performance would have led to a more positive weekend. He stressed that the team's focus should be on preparing for the upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi rather than dwelling on immediate emotional outbursts.
• Driver Honesty: Vasseur prefers drivers to be emotionally honest, even if critical, rather than offering insincere positivity, viewing it as a natural human reaction to a tough race.

What's next:

Ferrari faces the challenge of managing Hamilton's confidence and preventing his frustrations from escalating. Vasseur's message is clear: the team must regroup and focus on the final two races. The real work, he asserts, happens on Monday morning in discussions with the team, not in post-race interviews. The goal is to build on positive moments and convert them into strong results in the remaining rounds, protecting Hamilton's drive and maintaining team cohesion.