Hamilton 'just lacking the finer points' at Ferrari - team principal

      "Changing teams is a normal occurrence."

      Lewis Hamilton believes it might be time for Ferrari to postpone the 2025 car project in order to concentrate on the upcoming season. Team principal Frederic Vasseur indicated after Barcelona that there are both "visible" and "invisible" developments in progress for the current vehicle, even as McLaren seems increasingly out of reach. Charles Leclerc’s performance has significantly improved recently, while Hamilton, the new addition to the team, is struggling. "If I had to describe the car in one word?" Vasseur told La Stampa newspaper. "Sensitive. Sometimes we can extract the maximum performance, but not consistently. Qualifying in Imola and Miami were indicative, as we were quicker with used tires—something I’ve never encountered before."

      At 40, Hamilton appears to have accepted that he will face challenges throughout the season with the current car, which is why it is reasonable for him to urge Ferrari to direct all efforts towards the major changes coming with the 2026 regulations. "I’m not sure what updates are on the way," the Brit stated. "It’s been a while since we've had anything new. We'll keep working with what we have, and before it’s too late, I’d like to ask the team to shift focus to next season. This year, we're building the foundation, learning the tools, and fine-tuning structures and processes so that we can develop the car we need next year."

      Vasseur openly acknowledges that overtaking McLaren in 2025 seems nearly impossible, "given McLaren’s advantage and continuity." "We need to maintain focus on ourselves, just like we did 12 months ago when I didn’t think about the championship either," said Vasseur. "I would like the team to adopt the same mindset now. The response has been positive; Monte Carlo and Spain demonstrated that," he added. "Now we need that to be confirmed."

      Regarding Hamilton’s specific difficulties with the car, Vasseur noted: "Hamilton is just missing some details. We're talking about hundredths of a second, which in this competitive Formula 1 can make the difference between starting in the first or third row, between a strong weekend and one that’s less successful. But these are still just details—understanding the car, setup, communication. It’s typical when changing teams. Frustration? That’s understandable."

      Meanwhile, Vasseur praised the progress Leclerc has made since Hamilton's arrival this year. "He has made a significant leap in terms of clarity about what he wants compared to before," he said. "He is more straightforward in communicating his needs to the engineers." When asked if Leclerc is the clear lead driver, Vasseur replied: "We have two top drivers, and there’s no need for a leader. I believe Leclerc's advancement is partly due to the push from Lewis, while Charles is also assisting his teammate in understanding the team and the car."

      "They collaborate effectively, although I don’t require them to be best friends." Vasseur continued: "Leclerc has a strong connection to Ferrari—his career has been single-minded since his time in the academy and initially in GP3. He is deeply tied to the company and the team; he isn’t looking for a better seat but is committed to this project and this family. I hold a high level of respect for him for that."