Vasseur:Hamilton’s Ferrari Start Was Tough
Ferrari Extends Contract with Team Principal Frederic Vasseur Ahead of Summer Break
As Formula1 enters the summer break, Scuderia Ferrari has officially announced the extension of its contract with Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur. The team is placing its confidence in the Frenchman to lead Ferrari to its first Drivers’ Championship since 2007 and its first Constructors’ Championship since 2008. Vasseur remains optimistic about achieving these milestones but emphasizes the need for patience.
Frederic Vasseur:
"I believe I have one of the most exciting jobs in the Formula1 paddock. Winning in this sport is already a tremendous accomplishment, but winning with Ferrari is something truly special. I’m confident we can achieve that, but it will take time. Like any other team, Ferrari requires time to build success. If you look at the history of Formula1,when Christian Horner joined Red Bull or Jean Todt took over at Ferrari, it took them several years before the victories started coming. Success doesn’t happen overnight."
"Building a strong and competitive team doesn’t happen in just one season. You need to bring in the right people and then ensure they work together effectively. Everyone in Formula 1 talks about being agile and reactive, but the reality is that there are deep-rooted systems and a certain inertia that take time to shift."
"Our goal is clear. Everyone involved in this project is moving in the same direction. When there’s a shared vision and collective belief that we can achieve our target, that becomes a powerful driving force. We will give our maximum effort to reach that goal."
"The desire to win a championship runs throughout the entire team. We've already made significant progress across various areas, but now we need a bit more time to bring all the elements together. The buildup to the 2026 season offers a valuable opportunity to do just that."
Vasseur on Hamilton’s Transition to Ferrari:"We Underestimated the Challenge”
Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari, Vasseur acknowledged that both the team and the seven-time World Champion may have underestimated the complexity of his transition.
Frederic Vasseur:
"I think we didn’t fully appreciate just how difficult the move would be for Lewis. He spent nearly a decade at McLaren, followed by another ten years with Mercedes — almost 20 years within the same overall structure and environment."
"His move to Ferrari represented a major change: the culture, the people around him, the software, the car — everything was different. I believe both we and Lewis underestimated the scale of the adjustment he would need to make."
"Despite the challenges, Lewis is doing a commendable job. It’s been a difficult season, especially in the early stages when the car wasn’t performing at the level we had hoped, but he never gave up. He continued to push the team forward and pushed himself as well. That’s what makes this collaboration so valuable."
"In a season with high expectations and a tough start, it’s easy to lose motivation — but Lewis never stopped fighting. That resilience gives us great confidence for what lies ahead."
