Fred Vasseur Fires Back at Lewis Hamilton Critics in Explosive Ferrari F1 Update
The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a rocky ride for Ferrari’s new star, Lewis Hamilton, and the pressure is mounting as the seven-time world champion struggles to adapt to the SF-25 car. After a disappointing seventh-place finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Hamilton’s frustrations boiled over, admitting the race was “horrible” and predicting a “painful” season ahead. The Brit, who joined Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes, has been vocal about his challenges, even joking that he’d need a “brain implant” to fully grasp the SF-25’s dynamics. However, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has come to Hamilton’s defense with a fiery, expletive-laden response that has sent shockwaves through the F1 grid, dismissing the criticism as “effing nonsense” and urging fans to rethink their expectations.
Hamilton’s early season woes have been stark. Despite a Sprint race victory in China, he has failed to finish higher than fifth in a Grand Prix, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc by 16 points after just five races. In Jeddah, Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of the season with a third-place finish, while Hamilton languished 30 seconds behind, battling an imbalanced car and overheating issues on the hard tires. Hamilton’s post-race comments painted a grim picture, noting he was “sliding around” and losing significant time in every sector—two-tenths in the last, three-tenths in the first, and one-tenth in the middle. He admitted to the fans’ disappointment, saying, “I know the fans are not happy. I’m sure the team’s not happy, and I know the bosses are not happy. I’m not happy with my results either.” The stark contrast between Leclerc’s podium and Hamilton’s struggles has fueled speculation that Ferrari might shift focus to the Monegasque driver, especially with McLaren and Red Bull dominating early races.
Vasseur, however, is having none of it. In a heated press conference, he slammed the narrative of Hamilton’s decline as exaggerated, pointing out the competitive nature of F1. “Hamilton’s decline in form is not dramatic. We did five races so far. I know we want to have the big headlines tomorrow that Fred said this, but this is effing nonsense,” Vasseur declared. He highlighted the sport’s ups and downs, drawing a comparison to reigning champion Max Verstappen, who finished seventh in Bahrain but took pole and second in Jeddah. “You have 10 cars and a couple of tenths. Have a look at Max. He won in Japan, finished 30 seconds behind Piastri in Bahrain, and was P2 in Saudi Arabia,” Vasseur added, emphasizing that Hamilton’s struggles are part of the sport’s tight competition rather than a personal failing.
The Ferrari boss also clarified that Hamilton’s signing was a long-term investment, not a quick fix for 2025. “The signing is not for 2025 and is not to win titles all of a sudden. It’s a long-term opportunity for the seven-time world champion and Ferrari, and it’s likely going to take more than one year to get adapted to the new environment,” Vasseur explained. He acknowledged the team’s challenges in finding the right balance with the SF-25, a completely new car compared to its predecessor, but remains optimistic about Hamilton’s potential. The Sprint win in China, where Hamilton outqualified Leclerc by half a second, serves as proof of what he can achieve when the setup clicks.
As Ferrari prepares for the Miami Grand Prix, the spotlight remains on Hamilton to turn his season around. With the team potentially shifting focus to the 2026 regulations amid McLaren and Verstappen’s dominance, Hamilton’s ability to adapt will be crucial. Vasseur’s staunch defense may boost the Brit’s confidence, but the road ahead looks challenging. Can Hamilton silence his critics and reclaim his glory in red? Only time will tell, but for now, Ferrari’s faith in their superstar driver remains unshaken.
