Lewis Hamilton’s debut year at Ferrari in 2025 has been a tough ride, and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has recently opened up about the challenges both he and Hamilton have faced. After 18 years spent mostly at Mercedes and McLaren, Hamilton’s move to the Italian team has proved harder than initially expected. Vasseur admits that they both “stupidly” underestimated what a big change it would be, and how deeply it would affect the seven-time world champion.
Why The Struggle
For nearly two decades, Lewis Hamilton was part of a very familiar environment. From McLaren to Mercedes, the culture, people, and engine teams stayed largely the same. Ferrari, on the other hand, is entirely different in how it operates. Vasseur pointed out that the cultural gap between Mercedes and Ferrari is much bigger than between Mercedes and McLaren. For Hamilton, this new setting hasn’t been easy to adapt to.
Hamilton himself has shown frustration with his performance in recent races. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he qualified 12th and finished off the pace compared to teammate Charles Leclerc, he described himself as “absolutely useless” and even suggested Ferrari might need a new driver. These strong comments have gained a lot of attention and concern among fans and pundits.
Fred Vasseur On Lewis Hamilton’s Meltdowns
Fred Vasseur believes that Hamilton’s emotional reactions, especially when expressed publicly, make things worse rather than better. He said, “Stay calm. Don’t let things like what happened in Budapest get you down. Lewis is very self-critical. He is always extreme in his reactions. Sometimes he is too hard on the car, sometimes on himself. He wants to get the most out of himself and everyone in the team. The message he sends out only makes things worse.”
Interestingly, Vasseur added that inside the team, Hamilton is more composed than his public image suggests. After venting to the press, Lewis usually calms down in the briefing room. He said, “Most of the time, he’s only that extreme with the press. By the time he comes into the briefing room, he’s usually calmed down again. That’s just his way. For me, it’s no big deal.”
With the 2025 season still ongoing, much is expected from Lewis Hamilton as he adjusts to his new team. Fans will be watching closely to see if the British driver can channel his passion more calmly and help Ferrari move closer to the front again. This thoughtful and measured perspective from Fred Vasseur shows the complexity behind what looks like a simple driver change but is really a major life and career adjustment.
Also Read: Lewis Hamilton To Be Replaced At Ferrari By Carlos Sainz? Explained
