“Calm Down” is Fred Vasseur’s Message to Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has urged everyone to “calm down” following Lewis Hamilton’s harsh assessment of his difficult Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.

Ferrari salvaged a double points finish after the dry 50-lap race, but only after enduring a chaotic and rain-soaked Saturday qualifying session. Charles Leclerc could manage only ninth on the grid, while Hamilton recorded the worst qualifying result of his F1 career, starting 20th and last.

Both drivers recovered well in the race Leclerc to fourth and Hamilton to eighth later gaining two more spots apiece after McLaren’s double disqualification. Despite that, Hamilton concluded the weekend by calling it “a horrendous weekend, another one just to add to the list.”

Perspective

When asked about Hamilton’s frustration, Vasseur said he understood but urged perspective.

Vasseur explained:
“I think the issue is you start from P20 and for sure it will be difficult but, at the end of the day, I think that was a decent first part of the race. [But] we struggled a little bit more with the medium [in the second stint]. Let’s calm down. To jump out of the car and to make the first comment it’s always a bit too much and it’s this case after the game.”

He continued:
“I can understand the reaction from Lewis just after the race, but we have to calm down in this case and be focused on the next two [races]. The next two we will be back, and keep in mind that Lewis was there in FP1 and FP2 with a pace that was good. We have to build up the weekend like this and for sure to start from 20th is not the best way for the rest of the season.”

Ferrari remain fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 53 points and Red Bull by 13, with only two Grands Prix and one Sprint left on the calendar.

Vasseur emphasized the importance of finishing strong in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, regardless of the standings.

He added:
“For sure you always want to do a better job. It’s the DNA of the racing team. If you go super great todayexcept probably Max [Verstappen]everybody would have loved to do a better job.”

“It’s true for us, it’s true for the team, it’s true for Charles, it’s true for Lewis, and we want to get more. But the only way to get more is to work harder, to come back next week with more determination, more focus, and to try to avoid mistakes and to develop the car. It’s one thing that we have to change.”

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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