Scuderia Ferrari boss makes his feelings known on doubts over

Scuderia Ferrari boss makes his feelings known on doubts over Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying pace……read more

Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has addressed the concerns surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s struggles with qualifying pace during the 2024 Formula 1 season, ahead of the seven-time world champion’s move to Ferrari in 2025. Vasseur expressed confidence that Hamilton’s qualifying form would not be a major issue, emphasizing that points are awarded based on performance during the race on Sunday, not during the qualifying rounds.

Hamilton is set to join Ferrari for the 2025 season after spending a decade with Mercedes. While he won six world championships with the Silver Arrows between 2013 and 2019, the last few years have been challenging for the Briton. In particular, Hamilton endured a winless streak longer than any other in his career, and throughout 2024, he was outperformed by teammate George Russell in qualifying in 19 of the 24 races. Despite these struggles, Vasseur is not concerned about Hamilton’s qualifying form and believes that a change of team could improve this aspect of his performance.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Vasseur made it clear that Ferrari’s priority is the race itself, where the points are decided. “First of all, we are well placed to know that it’s on Sunday that you are scoring points. We are probably the best in qualifying but we struggle in the race. We have to keep the focus on the race,” Vasseur said. He emphasized that Ferrari’s goal is to focus on improving their race performance and maintaining momentum heading into the next season. When asked directly whether the team was worried about Hamilton’s qualifying struggles, Vasseur remained unconcerned, reiterating that the most important part of the weekend is the race on Sunday.

The 2024 season saw Ferrari narrowly miss out on the Constructors’ Championship, with McLaren snatching the title after Lando Norris’ victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, Vasseur is optimistic about the future, particularly with Hamilton’s arrival. Despite the recent challenges, Hamilton remains one of the most successful drivers in F1 history, holding the record for the most race wins and pole positions. Vasseur expressed confidence that, with the right team environment, Hamilton’s form will improve, particularly when he joins Ferrari in 2025.

Ferrari is gearing up for a major change in their driver lineup for the 2025 season, with Hamilton set to team up with Charles Leclerc. Vasseur spoke about the dynamics between the two drivers, stating that he does not foresee any problems in managing them. Both drivers share a deep mutual respect, and according to Vasseur, they have been in communication for months about their upcoming collaboration. He further noted that both Hamilton and Leclerc are aware of each other’s capabilities, which will contribute to a harmonious working relationship.

Vasseur also emphasized that his previous experience working with Hamilton in junior categories would make their professional relationship smooth. This confidence in their relationship is reassuring as Ferrari aims to challenge for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships in the 2025 season.

Ferrari’s expectations for 2025 are high, following a solid 2024 campaign where the team secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship and third place in the Drivers’ Championship. With the addition of Hamilton, the team is hopeful that their combination of experienced drivers and a strong technical foundation will lead to success. As the Prancing Horse prepares to unveil their 2025 challenger on February 19, the anticipation surrounding the partnership between Hamilton and Leclerc continues to grow, and Ferrari is confident that their new lineup will deliver strong results.