Ferrari crew principal Fred Vasseur has spoken positively about Lewis Hamilton’s mindset, regardless of a troublesome begin to his debut season with the Maranello-based squad. The seven-time Formulation 1 world champion has confronted a number of early obstacles as he adjusts to life at Ferrari after greater than a decade with Mercedes, however Vasseur emphasised that he’s inspired by how Hamilton is dealing with the transition.
Hamilton endured a irritating qualifying session on the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, inserting solely ninth on the grid. His disappointment was evident, particularly contemplating the robust efficiency he had proven earlier within the weekend. The struggles, based on Fred Vasseur, stem largely from the pure adaptation interval required when switching groups after such a protracted tenure elsewhere.
Among the many particular difficulties Hamilton has encountered is getting used to Ferrari’s braking programs. The Briton has cited unfamiliarity with the brake parts utilized by the Scuderia, in addition to the necessity to rely extra on engine braking with the SF-25—a component that was not a big issue throughout his years with Mercedes.
Fred Vasseur acknowledged the complexity of this adjustment, noting {that a} deep technical relationship just like the one Hamilton had at Mercedes can’t be replicated in a single day. He identified that changing over a decade of collaboration can’t occur in just some races and pressured that the necessity for enchancment applies to everybody on the grid—not simply Hamilton or Ferrari. For the Ferrari crew boss, the essence of Formulation 1 lies in striving for fixed progress throughout all areas of efficiency.
Regardless of the early setbacks, the Ferrari crew boss mentioned he’s happy with Hamilton’s psychological strategy. In keeping with Fred Vasseur, Hamilton has proven a willingness to take duty for his personal adaptation course of and is absolutely engaged in working constructively with the crew. The Frenchman appreciated that Hamilton acknowledges the necessity to alter his driving to go well with the traits of the SF-25, whereas Ferrari, in flip, is targeted on tailoring the automobile extra intently to the wants of its new driver.
Fred Vasseur additionally famous that Lewis Hamilton’s seen frustration after qualifying was, in reality, a optimistic signal. He believes that Hamilton’s dissatisfaction with a ninth-place outcome demonstrates the excessive requirements the motive force units for himself and displays his drive to realize higher outcomes. The Frenchman remarked that Hamilton had carried out strongly all through the weekend till qualifying and that his response confirmed a aggressive spirit reasonably than resignation.
Whereas Hamilton’s qualifying place was a setback, his race efficiency instructed a special story. The 105-time grand prix winner made a robust restoration within the Bahrain Grand Prix, climbing by way of the sector to complete fifth—simply behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Reflecting on Hamilton’s have to get better after a tough Saturday, Fred Vasseur defined how the fashionable Formulation 1 panorama punishes even the smallest errors. He emphasised that present grid competitiveness means a margin of just some tenths of a second could make the distinction between the entrance rows and the midfield. Fred Vasseur identified that whereas the Monegasque driver began on the entrance row, being just a few hundredths slower might have seen him drop to sixth.
In his view, such wonderful margins require a peaceful and measured strategy when evaluating efficiency. Vasseur highlighted the necessity to keep away from overreacting to small fluctuations, as fortunes can shift dramatically from one session to the subsequent.
Finally, the French supervisor expressed his satisfaction with Hamilton’s path and dedication following the Bahrain weekend. He mentioned that the crew inspired Hamilton to reset after qualifying, and the Briton responded with a robust displaying within the race. Wanting forward, Fred Vasseur is hopeful that the crew can construct on that momentum and proceed enhancing within the coming rounds, beginning with the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix weekend.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers find out about us
