Vasseur Challenges Hamilton and Ferrari to 'Improve' After Tough 2025

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has delivered a frank assessment of Lewis Hamilton's debut season with the team, calling for a collective effort to improve collaboration. After a difficult 2025 campaign that saw the seven-time champion finish sixth without a single Grand Prix podium, Vasseur emphasized that both the driver and the team must adapt to extract maximum performance from their partnership.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari was one of the most significant driver transfers in modern F1 history, designed to propel the Scuderia back to championship contention. The failure to deliver immediate results, with Hamilton being clearly outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc, raises serious questions about the team's ability to integrate a superstar driver and the adaptability of a driver entrenched in a single team's culture for over a decade. The success of this partnership is now critical for Ferrari's future title ambitions.

The details:

• Hamilton's 2025 season was a statistical low point, marking the first time in his career he went a full season without a Grand Prix podium. His sole victory came in the Sprint race in China, and he finished the championship in sixth place.
• In stark contrast, teammate Charles Leclerc finished fifth, scoring 86 more points and standing on the podium seven times.
• Vasseur placed responsibility on both sides, stating, "We must improve our collaboration with Lewis. He must learn to get the best out of the car. At the same time, we must better understand what he exactly needs."
• The Ferrari boss pointed to a massive cultural and operational shift as a primary reason for Hamilton's struggles.
  • "Lewis has been driving for 20 years with Mercedes engines and in British teams," Vasseur explained. "When it comes to the switch to Italy, it's not about food or the weather. At Ferrari, everything is different: the internal processes, the software, the components. If you are not fully adapted, you lose hundredths everywhere."

Looking ahead:

Despite the clear criticism, Vasseur is looking toward the future with a degree of optimism, framing the upcoming 2026 regulation change as a clean slate for the team. He identified positive foundations from the 2025 campaign, such as reliable pit stops, clever strategies, and overall car reliability, which he believes provide a solid base to build upon. The new rules present a critical opportunity for Ferrari and Hamilton to finally gel and mount a serious challenge for the championship.