BREAKING:Ferrari F1 boss defends Lewis Hamilton against ‘false’ crit…read more
BREAKING:Ferrari F1 boss defends Lewis Hamilton against ‘false’ crit…read more
Ferrari Formula 1 team principal Fred Vasseur has responded to recent criticism of Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion. After making a high-profile move from Mercedes during the off-season, Hamilton has expressed his determination to return to title contention after a period of struggles with the Silver Arrows. However, some have suggested that the 40-year-old’s best years may be behind him, especially following a slow start at Ferrari. Vasseur strongly rejects this idea.
In an interview with L’Equipe, the Frenchman highlighted Hamilton’s impressive performance in his final race with Mercedes last season, where he advanced from 16th to finish fourth, overtaking his teammate in the process.
“Some of the criticism has been very harsh,” Vasseur stated. “To say Hamilton is past his prime is not only unfair but also incorrect. Look at his last race last year, where he started from 16th and finished fourth, passing his teammate.”
Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has not yet seen him reach that level of performance, but he did secure his first-ever sprint victory in China last month. However, his weekend in Shanghai soured after both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the race for breaching FIA regulations.
Currently, after the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton sits in 8th place in the drivers’ championship with just 15 points, while Leclerc is only 5 points ahead. The pressure is mounting on both drivers to improve their performances quickly if they are to remain in contention for the title.
Ferrari also faces challenges in the constructors’ standings. After coming close to winning the championship last season, only to fall short against McLaren, the team entered this year with high expectations. However, with the Bahrain Grand Prix coming up, they are already trailing behind Red Bull and Mercedes, who are currently leading the pack.
