Breaking: Vasseur backs Hamilton after ASTONISHING F1…read more
Vasseur backs Hamilton after ASTONISHING F1…read more
Frédéric Vasseur has come to the defense of Lewis Hamilton after the British driver claimed that he is “not fast anymore” during the 2023 Formula 1 season. Hamilton made these remarks following his qualifying performance at the Qatar Grand Prix, where he qualified seventh—nearly four-tenths of a second slower than his teammate, George Russell. Hamilton admitted to feeling “slow” and noted that it had been the same situation every weekend, expressing doubts about his speed. The seven-time world champion’s struggles with qualifying have been evident, particularly in the era of ground-effect aerodynamics, as he managed only one pole position in 2023, at the Hungarian Grand Prix. His qualifying performance has been overshadowed by Russell, who has consistently outperformed Hamilton in head-to-head comparisons. In fact, Russell has won 5 out of 19 Grand Prix sessions against Hamilton, and when sprint race results are included, the score increases to 24-6 in favor of the younger driver.
Despite these challenges, Vasseur, who will become Hamilton’s new boss at Ferrari in 2024, has dismissed concerns about Hamilton’s pace. He strongly believes that Hamilton still has the speed and skill to perform at the highest level. Vasseur pointed to Hamilton’s late-race performance at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as evidence that the 104-time pole-sitter is far from losing his ability. He referred to the dramatic last-lap move Hamilton made on his former teammate, George Russell, for fourth place, suggesting that such performances are a clear indication that Hamilton retains his underlying pace.
Vasseur also stressed that the ultimate goal in F1 is to score points, which are only awarded on Sundays in the races themselves. Despite Hamilton’s struggles in qualifying, Vasseur is confident that the veteran driver still has plenty to offer, citing strong performances in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi as examples of Hamilton’s resilience. He acknowledged that Hamilton’s situation at Mercedes was difficult, particularly after a challenging season, but believes Hamilton’s recent results indicate that he is far from washed up.
Vasseur further emphasized that he had never been concerned about Hamilton’s abilities and was optimistic about their partnership at Ferrari. With Charles Leclerc, known for his blistering pace in qualifying, set to join Hamilton as a teammate, Vasseur is confident that Hamilton will find his rhythm again. “I’m not worried at all,” Vasseur concluded, reinforcing his belief in Hamilton’s continued competitiveness.
About The Author
