Stefano Domenicali urges Fred Vasseur to dam out stress and keep targeted to assist Lewis Hamilton succeed at Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, the present workforce principal at Ferrari, understands Lewis Hamilton’s capabilities on the racetrack higher than most. Lengthy earlier than Hamilton started his Formulation 1 profession with McLaren in 2007, Fred Vasseur had already labored with the British driver throughout his dominant marketing campaign in GP2 with ART Grand Prix. Practically twenty years later, the 2 have reunited at Ferrari underneath very completely different circumstances, however the begin of their journey collectively has not mirrored the success of their earlier collaboration.
The Briton’s much-anticipated change from Mercedes to Ferrari hasn’t delivered fast outcomes. Whereas there was a short spark of optimism after the seven-time world champion clinched victory within the Dash Race in China from pole place, it proved short-lived. The principle race introduced disappointment, with each Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified attributable to technical infringements. Furthermore, Hamilton has overtly admitted he’s nonetheless acclimating to Ferrari’s inside programs and methodologies, making the variation part extra complicated than anticipated.
The Briton made the transfer to Ferrari with desires of following within the footsteps of icons like Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda—champions who added to their legacies in purple. Whereas such ambitions appear out of attain in 2025, Formulation 1 Group CEO and former Ferrari workforce boss Stefano Domenicali has supplied his perspective on how Hamilton and Ferrari can navigate the difficult street forward.
Stefano Domenicali’s message to Fred Vasseur and Hamilton: block out stress and concentrate on the main points
Talking throughout an interview on the Italian radio program La Politica nel Pallone for Rai Gr Parlamento, Stefano Domenicali touched on numerous subjects, together with the way forward for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Nevertheless it was his perception on Ferrari’s present trajectory that drew consideration. When requested in regards to the workforce’s underwhelming begin to the season, Stefano Domenicali avoided criticism, as an alternative emphasizing that Ferrari seems nearer to the front-runners than some would possibly suppose.
He revealed that he usually communicates with Fred Vasseur and supplied the Ferrari boss a singular piece of recommendation: to maintain working with willpower, with out permitting the immense stress that naturally accompanies the Ferrari function to cloud his judgment. Stefano Domenicali conveyed his perception that Ferrari has what it takes to return to profitable kind throughout the yr, highlighting how the minimal efficiency gaps throughout the sphere imply that even the smallest enhancements might shift the stability.
The previous Ferrari government additionally shared a private dialog he had with Hamilton, noting that the British driver had come to grasp the immense significance of representing Ferrari. The F1 CEO identified that sporting the purple go well with carries a singular weight, even for a champion of Hamilton’s caliber.
Ferrari nonetheless trying to find the appropriate components to unlock Hamilton’s full potential
Lewis Hamilton’s long-standing relationship with Mercedes-powered groups has made the transition to Ferrari all of the more difficult. From profitable his first title with McLaren in 2008 to capturing six extra with Mercedes, Hamilton has grown accustomed to a specific technical atmosphere. Now, he finds himself adapting to a special set of instruments, procedures, and philosophies in Maranello.
The efficiency hole between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is at present noticeable, and insiders recommend it stems from refined however crucial variations of their consolation with the SF-25. After the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton pointed to Ferrari’s braking system for example—whereas seemingly minor, even slight discomfort in such areas can translate into misplaced tenths over a lap.
Rwandan and Belgian racing driver and tv presenter Naomi Schiff famous that Lewis Hamilton has not but discovered the proper setup for his new automotive. The Maranello workforce’s disqualification in China, brought on by the ground being too low, could have additional disrupted efforts to fine-tune the stability and configuration of Hamilton’s automotive.
Nonetheless, Ferrari confirmed indicators of enchancment in Sakhir, the place each automobiles secured their finest finishes of the season up to now. The end result advised progress behind the scenes, even when the general tempo and stability nonetheless fall in need of championship-winning requirements. Because the season continues, Ferrari’s skill to evolve shortly shall be crucial—not only for Hamilton’s success, however for the workforce’s broader ambitions of returning to the highest of Formulation 1.