Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur does not want to overestimate Lewis Hamilton’s recent depressed interviews and shows understanding
Lewis Hamilton comes across much more positively at Ferrari than his sometimes very negative media appearances during the 2025 Formula 1 season would suggest, claims team boss Frederic Vasseur.
The seven-time world champion has probably had his weakest season to date: For the first time in his entire Formula 1 career, he did not finish on the podium once, ultimately finishing sixth in the championship and 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc. It was not the debut year Hamilton had hoped for at Ferrari, and as someone who openly shows his emotions, he repeatedly expressed his frustration to the media.
From 32-second interviews on Sky Sports to one-word answers in media rounds, the 40-year-old clearly gave the impression that he didn’t really want to be there. But Vasseur believes that it was all just a facade.
Motivating behind the scenes
Behind the scenes, Hamilton is actually very motivating, and that’s exactly what the Ferrari team boss appreciates as the Scuderia searches for its first title since the 2008 Constructors’ World Championship.
“When you get knocked out in Q1, I hope the driver is extremely angry with himself and the team,” says Vasseur, referring to the phase in which Hamilton, as Ferrari’s first regular driver, experienced three consecutive Q1 knockouts – from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi.
“I’m not sure if you journalists would prefer someone to go into the TV zone and say, ‘No, everything is normal, blah blah blah – the usual bullshit.’”
“I totally respect the drivers’ attitude when they have that mindset. But the most important thing for me is to have someone who works with the team,” emphasizes the Frenchman.
“It’s much better to have someone who doesn’t talk in the TV zone, but comes back to the debriefing, talks to the engineers, and tries to find solutions. That’s exactly the attitude Lewis had, even when he was going through a difficult phase in the latter part of the season, and that brings positive energy to the team.”
“Sometimes I don’t feel like it either”
“To be honest, I’m in exactly the same situation as you,” Vasseur admits to journalists. “When you come at me after a tough race, while I’m just coming down to the pit wall and you have countless questions, sometimes I don’t feel like taking the time to answer them either.”
Vasseur is particularly understanding of Hamilton’s situation in light of the enormous change he has undergone after spending twelve record-breaking years at Mercedes.
“It was difficult for Lewis,” adds the 57-year-old, whose team fell from second to fourth in the overall standings after a disappointing season for Ferrari.
“I personally underestimated this move. It’s not about us doing better or worse, it’s just different. It’s not just about the food or the weather—every single piece of software is different, every single component is different. The people around him were different too.”
