Ferrari chief admits Hamilton health doubts as...

Ferrari chief admits Hamilton health doubts as…read more

Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, has come forward with a strong endorsement of Lewis Hamilton’s abilities, dismissing concerns over the seven-time world champion’s form as he prepares for a high-profile move to the Scuderia in 2025. Hamilton’s upcoming transition from Mercedes to Ferrari has sparked a mix of excitement and skepticism, particularly following a challenging 2024 season. While Hamilton has enjoyed immense success throughout his illustrious career, winning six of his titles and 84 of his 105 Grand Prix victories with Mercedes, his recent years at the team have raised questions about his performance, particularly in comparison to younger drivers like Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Despite a less-than-ideal 2024 campaign, Vasseur has given a clear vote of confidence to Hamilton, insisting that the driver is not in decline. The 2024 season, which marked Hamilton’s final year with Mercedes, featured a mix of ups and downs. Although he failed to challenge for a title, Hamilton showed flashes of his former brilliance, particularly in the latter part of the season. For instance, in Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, he delivered strong performances that suggested his skills were still sharp, even if the car and team were struggling.

Vasseur pointed to Hamilton’s overtaking of his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the final lap of the 2024 season as evidence of his continued competitive edge. “Ask the question to Russell on Sunday,” Vasseur told Sky Sports, referring to the memorable moment when Hamilton passed his teammate in the season’s final race. Vasseur downplayed the impact of a difficult qualifying session in Abu Dhabi, arguing that it wasn’t indicative of Hamilton’s overall performance level. “He had a tough moment in quali, but I don’t think that the quali of Abu Dhabi, for example, was linked to the performance of Lewis,” Vasseur explained. “He had very good races in Vegas and in Abu Dhabi. And I was never, really, never, never, never worried about this situation.”

Vasseur also acknowledged the challenges Hamilton faced in the latter part of the 2024 season, particularly regarding the mental toll of competing in an uncompetitive car. The team principal was empathetic to the pressures Hamilton faced, especially when results were not going in his favor. However, Vasseur emphasized that these difficulties would not have a lasting effect on the driver as he prepares to take on a new challenge with Ferrari. “This situation is not easy to manage, and I can understand that if it’s not going very well, you can suffer in this relationship,” Vasseur admitted. “But I was never worried about Lewis’s abilities.”

One of the more sensitive topics raised regarding Hamilton’s 2024 season was his mental well-being. During the year, Hamilton openly discussed his struggles with the mental side of the sport, admitting that he had faced tough moments in his personal and professional life. Vasseur, however, appeared confident that this would not be a major issue moving forward. “He was not very well in his mind, but he was clear in Brazil about this, for example,” Vasseur revealed. Despite the personal challenges Hamilton faced, the Ferrari boss pointed out that the British driver still delivered strong performances in the final races of the season, including his impressive showing in Abu Dhabi. “He also did very well in the last couple of events, so I’m not worried at all,” Vasseur concluded.

Looking ahead to Hamilton’s 2025 season with Ferrari, there will naturally be questions about how he will adapt to a new team and how he will fare alongside Leclerc. The 2024 season demonstrated that the Mercedes driver still possesses the raw speed and racecraft to compete at the highest level, even if his team struggled to provide him with a competitive car. Vasseur’s comments appear to reassure both Hamilton’s supporters and those within Ferrari, who are eager to see what the pairing with Leclerc can achieve.

Ferrari is expected to provide Hamilton with a car capable of challenging for the championship in the near future, making his switch from Mercedes an intriguing development in the F1 landscape. With Vasseur’s backing and Hamilton’s resilience in the face of adversity, many believe the 2025 season could be the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both driver and team.