F1 WORLD SHCK: Fred Vasseur admits he was ‘scared’/’Shock’ when Ferrari told him about a change of Lewis Hamilton’s… Read more
Fred Vasseur admits he was ‘scared’ when Ferrari told him about a change to Lewis Hamilton’s car
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has opened up on a tense moment during the 2025 Formula 1 season, admitting that he was “scared” when engineers informed him of an unexpected adjustment to Lewis Hamilton’s car. The revelation highlights the ongoing challenges facing the Scuderia, who have endured a disappointing campaign despite beginning the year with high hopes of fighting for the championship.
The Italian giants sit second in the constructors’ standings at the summer break, but the numbers tell a more painful story. Ferrari trail McLaren by a staggering 299 points after 14 of 24 races, leaving their pre-season optimism in tatters. Having finished only 14 points behind the Woking-based outfit in last year’s standings, the team expected to be in the thick of the title fight. Instead, Ferrari find themselves struggling to keep pace with McLaren, Red Bull and even Mercedes.
While McLaren’s dynamic duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have dominated, sitting one-two in the drivers’ championship with 284 and 275 points respectively, Ferrari’s own stars have been unable to mount a serious challenge. Charles Leclerc holds fifth place with 151 points, while Hamilton—still searching for his first Grand Prix victory in red—sits sixth with 109.
Perhaps most telling is the fact that Ferrari remain the only team among the current top four without a race win this season. McLaren have collected an incredible 11 Grand Prix victories, Red Bull have claimed two, and Mercedes celebrated one. Ferrari’s only moment of triumph came courtesy of Hamilton’s sprint race win in China, a modest achievement compared to their rivals’ trophy cabinets.
Leclerc has shouldered much of the responsibility, delivering all five of Ferrari’s podium finishes so far. Hamilton, meanwhile, has faced a string of setbacks, ranging from car balance issues to strategic missteps. It was during one of these difficult weekends that Vasseur admitted to feeling genuine concern when Ferrari’s technical department flagged a necessary change to Hamilton’s car.
“When they came to me with the information, I have to say I was scared,” Vasseur revealed in an interview. “With everything that has happened this year, you don’t want to make a mistake that could compromise Lewis further. He has been adapting to the car, but the results don’t reflect the effort he’s putting in.”
The Frenchman did not detail the specific adjustment, but his words underline the fragile confidence within Maranello as the team struggles to provide Hamilton with machinery capable of matching his ambition. The seven-time world champion’s arrival at Ferrari was heralded as a new dawn, yet the partnership has not yet yielded the fairytale results that the Tifosi craved.
Still, Vasseur remains optimistic that the team can turn the tide. “We know what we have to improve, and we are working tirelessly. There is no lack of motivation,” he insisted. “The gap to McLaren is big, but the season is long. Our goal is to keep pushing and to give Lewis and Charles the car they deserve.”
With ten races left on the calendar, Ferrari face a daunting challenge to salvage their season. Whether Hamilton can break his Grand Prix drought and Leclerc can climb into the top three of the standings will depend on how quickly Vasseur’s squad can deliver upgrades. For now, though, the Scuderia remain a team searching for answers while their rivals surge ahead.
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