Vasseur Claims Ferrari Misjudged Hamilton’s Bold Move

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur says the team underestimated the scale of Lewis Hamilton’s switch, impacting his adaptation during the 2025 season and shaping Ferrari’s approach to execution.

After 22 years within McLaren and Mercedes structures, Hamilton enters a fundamentally different Maranello environment, altering processes, communication, and daily rhythms on and off track.

Speaking on F1’s Beyond The Grid, Vasseur concedes Ferrari misjudged the transition and highlights limited preparation, with only three test days before the opener restricting systems understanding.

Hamilton’s results mirror that learning curve: a Sprint pole and a Chinese Grand Prix victory offset by early qualifying exits and occasional non-scores.

The 2025 field is compressed, so marginal gains decide outcomes. A tenth can swing track position, tyre phase, and strategy windows, amplifying any procedural inefficiency.

Vasseur frames the task as rebuilding muscle memory: simulator correlation, run-plan discipline, tyre preparation, radio habits, and Ferrari-specific tools all need repetition before instinct replaces conscious management.

The contrast with Hamilton’s UK-based past is stark. McLaren and Mercedes shared proximity, language, and engine supply, whereas Ferrari represents a wholesale cultural and operational reset.

Within that backdrop, Ferrari maintains full backing. Vasseur stresses unwavering support across tough weekends, including Spa and Budapest, to stabilise execution and maintain driver confidence.

The aim is twofold: maximise 2025 points while laying foundations for the 2026 regulation shift, where continuity and clarity could counter rivals like Red Bull, amid Verstappen and Red Bull’s 2026 plans taking shape.

Vasseur praises Hamilton’s capacity to raise standards. The seven-time champion pushes departments to find detail, adding energy that can convert preparation into consistent qualifying execution.

If the adaptation accelerates, Ferrari’s ceiling rises. Cleaner Saturdays reduce traffic exposure and expand strategic options, improving race management and tyre life across stints.

The broader industry context underscores fine margins and rapid development cycles, as tracked in auto racing industry trends and types of motorsports analysis, plus comparisons like F1 vs NASCAR.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.