Vasseur Understands Hamilton's Frustration After Disappointing Las Vegas GP
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur understands Lewis Hamilton's frustration after a challenging Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Hamilton called it his 'worst season.' Vasseur emphasized that post-race emotions are normal, preferring driver honesty over superficial comments. He believes the crucial factor is how drivers and team collaboratively work for improvement, highlighting that Hamilton's underlying pace has shown promise despite recent setbacks.
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur acknowledges Lewis Hamilton's frustration following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, emphasizing that a driver's immediate post-race comments are less crucial than their subsequent commitment to improvement. Hamilton described his performance in Las Vegas as a new low in what he called his 'worst season' in F1, finishing 10th (later eighth) after a dismal qualifying.
Why it matters:
Hamilton's candid criticisms highlight the ongoing struggles at Ferrari and the immense pressure on the seven-time world champion in his inaugural season with the team. His public comments, though intense, are viewed by Vasseur as a sign of a driver's passion and desire to improve, rather than a negative reflection on team morale. Understanding and addressing these frustrations are key for Ferrari to maintain cohesion and push for better results.
The Details:
- Las Vegas Performance: Hamilton qualified last in wet conditions, a career first due to pace alone, and finished eighth after McLaren disqualifications, behind Nico Hulkenberg.
- Hamilton's Comments: Post-race, Hamilton expressed feeling 'terrible,' labeling 2025 as his 'worst season' and stating, 'no matter how much I try, it just keeps getting worse.' He also told media that Ferrari was 'done' in their Constructors' Championship pursuit and even admitted to 'not looking forward' to 'next season.'
- Vasseur's Perspective: Frederic Vasseur stated he could 'understand the reaction from Lewis just after the race' but stressed the importance of 'calming down, discussing, and focusing on the next two races.'
- Driver Honesty: Vasseur prefers drivers to be 'very open at the end of the race' when frustrated, rather than giving a glossed-over, positive assessment. He believes such raw emotion is 'normal as a human' and less important than 'what they do on the Monday morning with the team.'
- Past Instances: This isn't the first time Hamilton has been vocally critical of his performance this season, having called himself 'useless' after Hungarian GP qualifying and describing his Sao Paulo weekend as a 'nightmare.'
- Chairman's Remarks: These earlier comments led to Ferrari chairman John Elkann suggesting drivers needed to 'focus more on driving and talk less,' underscoring the scrutiny on the team's public image.
- Underlying Pace: Despite recent mathematical struggles (DNF in Brazil, penalty in Mexico), Vasseur highlighted that Hamilton's 'pure performance' in Mexico and Austin was among his best, indicating potential that needs to be harnessed effectively.
What's Next:
Ferrari and Hamilton now look to the Qatar Grand Prix to regroup and translate underlying pace into tangible results. Vasseur's approach of understanding and channeling driver frustration into constructive action will be crucial in the remaining races. The focus shifts from immediate post-race reactions to the team's collective effort to improve performance and climb back up the Constructors' Championship standings.