Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is confident they have taken the right approach to help Lewis Hamilton adjust to his new environment as quickly as possible.
Hamilton had just one-and-a-half days of testing in the team’s new car before the first event of the season this weekend. He was unable to drive for them in the post-season test at Yas Marina last year, unlike several other drivers who changed teams.However Ferrari used the opportunity to run Hamilton in one of their older chassis, known as Testing of Previous Cars under F1’s regulations, at the beginning of the season. Vasseur said that gave him a useful chance to get used to the team’s internal processes.
“It’s not [the goal] to be at the limit on one session, it’s not a matter of speed,” said Vasseur in the FIA press conference after the first practice session.
“The target is for him to know everybody in the team, to discover the software, the process, the system. I’m convinced that we have something very similar to Mercedes, but at the end of the day, perhaps not with the same name, or the same way to use them.
“It’s just a learning process. We did one or two test days with the TPC one or two months ago. It was a good way to approach it but nothing compares to the race weekend. We have to go through and we have to do it, but I’m not worried at all about this.”
Hamilton placed 12th in the first practice session at Albert Park, six-tenths of a second slower than team mate Charles Leclerc, but Vasseur said this was no cause for concern.
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“He’s on this process, honestly, you can’t draw a conclusion after a first session,” he said. “I have absolutely no doubt that he will be able to perform and to perform soon. Last year I think that Carlos [Sainz Jnr] was P8 or P9 in free practice and he won the race.”
Hamilton said yesterday he is still getting accustomed to the differences between Ferrari’s car and the Mercedes he drove last year.
“Joining a new team, the sooner you can reach a high level and get results, the better. But inevitably, there’s a transition period, and there is a foundation that’s needed to be built, […] that’s what we have been doing over the past couple of months.
“The first half of the season, it is about that foundation. Building those relationships, the trust, you’re building with absolutely every everyone in the team. Trust isn’t something you just walk in the door and have, it’s built over time.
“For me, the goal is to win, of course, and to take the team forward. I’ve had some not-so-spectacular years and I’m trying to see if I can have a better year than I have the last three. There are a lot of factors that can add to that.”
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El Pollo Loco
14th March 2025, 4:48
It’ll take more than a single practice session to determine if he’s even actually off the pace yet. We should expect a gap of a few tenths for at least a few rounds anyway.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2025, 6:09
I think in Qualifying specifically, we can expect Leclerc to be ahead for much of the season probably, given how good he is in qualifying and yeah, Hamilton will need time to get really up to speed on all the tricks and sweet spots. I would expect that the first shows of Hamilton doing well (I sure hope we’ll get those) will come in some of the races.
Ferdi
14th March 2025, 7:14
In all fairness, in line with the praise this man often receives, might it not be fair then to expect he is on it from the word ‘go’. Given his status he should be able to beat Charles instantly and be the lead Ferrari driver.
Patrick
14th March 2025, 8:01
You’re greatly underestimating Charles.
Christopher Rehn (@chrischrill)
14th March 2025, 10:48
I’m not sure anyone, even Max, could beat Charles in the first practice in Ferrari.
SteveP
14th March 2025, 8:13
If he performs in the same pattern he’s had for most of his career, he’s likely to be slower in the first few races.
People have commented on the late start to his season on many occasions.
If he’s beating Leclerc by Bahrain the comments will be “same old Hamilton”, if not then the comments will be “he’s past it”
grat
14th March 2025, 18:06
I believe Hamilton has only won the opening race of the season and the driver’s championship in only two years– 2008 and 2015. And 2021, depending on how you feel about that.
But trying to determine Hamilton’s season performance based on the opening race is foolish.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th March 2025, 5:27
I said this from the beginning but I can’t see this working out at all for either LH or Ferrari. It’s too late for a.move like this (unlike, say, Alonso or Vettel) and Ferrari is a tough environment.
Ofc being the great he is, he might prove me wrong in 2 races. But hey, it’s my gut feeling.
Ben
14th March 2025, 6:26
+1 I can’t see this ending well for either side. Maybe Leclerc is the big winner if Ferrari is the team to beat this year as he’ll have no challenge from Hamilton.
BasCB (@bascb)
14th March 2025, 6:32
A rather moot point when Ferrari is not the “team to beat” though, given how it seems those really good long runs for the McLarens seem to still show to be there if we can believe FP2 times.
Ferdi
14th March 2025, 7:17
I have always interpreted the move as a marketing driven one rather than a sportive driven one. So it still makes sense what they are doing.
baasbas
14th March 2025, 8:27
I’m in two minds here.. A rejuvenated Hamilton in a fast car, yes please!
But why do we see answers like these in interviews, that he has to re-learn all basic things. Even studying Lerlercs trace was upside down to what he is used to. I mean, yes, sure, of course..
Well, it’s not like being called up last minute to fill in for Sainz. Everybody knew he was coming, himself included. They all had more than enough time to prepare and study. It will be challenging enough for him to have to drive a very different car. All these distractions about the team, procedures, buttons, settings and people should have been ironed out. The only thing you can’t prepare for off season is real life track time.
baasbas
14th March 2025, 8:28
…or are these comments only to get some early excuses in?
Hope I’m wrong..
Ferdi
14th March 2025, 12:18
They must be. I mean he is a multiple WDC. To me the greats express their greatness by being able to adapt instantly to new circumstances. I mean anyone can win in the best car, but can you drive around problems? I expect him to outshine every single driver in the field given his tally of WDC. It all sounds a bit bracing so far though.
MichaelN
14th March 2025, 9:33
It’s just Friday. Heck, it’s just the first race. Give it some time. This is a sport where tenths of a second matter, which amounts to tiny fractions of a percent in difference. Of course it’ll take time to dial that all in. It’s easy for someone of Hamilton’s statue to get within a few tenths, and so we’ve seen exactly that today. But those last bits will take some more time and experience.
And even if he plays second fiddle to Leclerc throughout the season, that’s already what Ferrari had in Sainz. No reason to get all despondent about a possible WCC title. Unless folks really believe RB2 will also continue to outpace RB1.
David
14th March 2025, 11:56
Why is Fred saying “perform soon” after only a couple of Friday sessions? I think he is letting slip that they already know he is off the pace, despite appearing to match Charles in the Bahrain test.
Already a growing number in the sympathetic British media that are trying to downplay expectations for Hamilton. His license-fee funded fan over at the BBC (Andrew Benson) has rolled out a few such articles.
Fortunately Racefans keeps a more objective eye on things most of the time.