Vasseur Urges Calm After Hamilton’s Scathing Las Vegas GP Assessment
Meta Description: Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has called for perspective following Lewis Hamilton’s critical remarks after a challenging Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has urged a measured response following blunt comments from Lewis Hamilton after a difficult weekend at the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The Scuderia secured a double points finish in the 50-lap race, but the result came after a fraught qualifying session hampered by wet and treacherous conditions.
Charles Leclerc started the race from ninth position, while Hamilton endured his worst-ever Formula 1 qualifying performance, finishing last in 20th. Despite recovering to fourth and eighth respectively during the race – gains later bolstered by the post-race disqualification of both McLaren cars – Hamilton described the weekend as “horrendous, another one just to add to the list.”
Responding to Hamilton’s assessment, Vasseur acknowledged the seven-time World Champion’s frustration, particularly given his ongoing podium drought this season. “I think the issue is you start from P20 and for sure it will be difficult,” Vasseur explained. “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].”
Vasseur stressed the need for a more considered perspective. “Let’s calm down,” he stated. “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 further added, “I can understand the reaction from Lewis just after the race, but we have to calm down in this case and to be focused on the next two [races].”
The team principal highlighted Hamilton’s strong pace during earlier practice sessions. “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.”
Currently, Ferrari holds fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing Mercedes by 53 points and Red Bull by 13 points with only two Grand Prix races – in Qatar and Abu Dhabi – and one Sprint event remaining. Vasseur emphasized the importance of strong performances in these final races, irrespective of championship standings.
“For sure you always want to do a better job. It’s a DNA of the racing team,” Vasseur said. “If you go super great today, except 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.”
Vasseur concluded by stating that continuous improvement requires dedication and a commitment to minimizing errors. “But the only way to get more is to work harder and 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.”
