Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur reckons it was too early to tout Lewis Hamilton as a Formula 1 title contender for 2025 following his victory in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.
The seven-time world champion won the Saturday race from pole in March on what was only his second competitive appearance for Ferrari.
But he has since struggled, being disqualified from the grand prix in Shanghai for a technical infringement before only finishing seventh in Japan and then fifth in Bahrain last weekend.
Vasseur was questioned about whether the team could assist Hamilton in acclimating to his new group after he moved over from Alfa Romeo. Mercedes over the winter.
Before this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he stated: "Lewis comes with his own experience, having spent 20 years in F1 with various teams and nearly a decade at Mercedes." McLaren , 12 years at Mercedes, and it's always good to have someone joining the team with this kind of experience, with this kind of vision, and to help us to improve.
It makes no difference whether it’s Lewis, Charles [Leclerc, his teammate], or Carlos [Sainz, who Hamilton took over from] from last year; our objective remains consistent—to provide the best support possible for each driver and achieve an optimal balance for their respective vehicles. We apply equal effort and focus to both cars.
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Image courtesy of: Peter Fox - Getty Images
“I think you [media] were all a bit enthusiastic on the Saturday evening in China, speaking about the [FIA end of season] prize-giving ceremony and so we have to calm down a little bit.
“We have a new car, it's not the carry-over of the car of last year and probably that we are struggling a bit more to find the right balance and the right set-up.
However, this is how things go for each team out there; you understand that often just a tenth of a second can make you feel like the car’s setup is completely off or only slightly askew.
The highly encouraging aspect is that we're functioning as a cohesive unit, with both drivers exerting effort towards the same objective.
Vasseur was questioned about whether he believed Ferrari possessed everything needed for success, and he highlighted that the increased competition across the grid is complicating his task.
He added: “The ingredients are all there, but now it's like cooking. You have to put the ingredients together at the right stage.
“Honestly, I don't have the feeling that we expect the best from the car so far, but I would say that it's true for us, but it's true also for the others.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo credit: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Even [championship leaders] McLaren, with the step that they have compared to the rest of the grid, sometimes you have one of the cars which is struggling a bit more.
A few years back, you could use a medium tire for just one lap in Q1 and still advance to Q2. Nowadays, even the leading teams must allocate some time using a set of soft tires.
“It means that the field is very, very tight, and each time that you make a mistake, you can lose five, six positions. Then, the conclusion from the outside is that it's a drama.
We prioritize genuine performance, which implies that maintaining composure and conducting thorough analyses are essential for enhancement.
It was one of the team's abilities last season to capitalize effectively, and I hope we maintain that speed this year.
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