Vasseur aims for podium finishes while Hamilton remains cautious.
Fred Vasseur asserts that Ferrari can still contend for podiums before the conclusion of 2025, though Lewis Hamilton remains skeptical. The seven-time world champion has had a challenging initial season with Ferrari, with both his performance and the team's results not meeting expectations.
Flavio Briatore, who is currently managing Alpine, advised patience during an interview with Italy's Automoto. "Luca di Montezemolo was and is an exceptional manager with great leadership, but even he had to wait five years to secure a championship. Fred Vasseur will eventually resolve all the team's issues," stated the 75-year-old.
Briatore believes Ferrari could achieve a breakthrough as early as 2026. "Formula 1 is quite intricate these days, with seven cars within two-tenths of each other. This year, only McLaren is genuinely competitive, but next year will see a shift. Alpine will again strive for podiums, and with the new cars, Hamilton will also be in the mix for victories."
Despite Hamilton's cautious outlook, Ferrari team principal Vasseur is optimistic about potential results for Hamilton this year. "Yes, because he was able to compete with Russell in Zandvoort and came back from P10 to challenge Russell at Monza. Russell has been on the podium several times this year. Yes, we can expect to be on the podium," Vasseur told the media.
Hamilton, at 40, holds a more pessimistic stance. When asked if a podium finish is likely, he responded, "I don’t think so. Charles (Leclerc) was pushing hard at Monza. We have Max (Verstappen) back up there now. We lack the pace of Red Bull—they were very fast—and we don’t match McLaren’s speed. So, at this moment, I believe we are fourth or fifth."
Verstappen also expressed understanding for his former title rival. "I can’t evaluate how he operated at Mercedes or how he feels within the team," the Dutch driver said. "But he joined a team that already has a strong driver in Charles. It’s not easy to immediately outpace a teammate who is well-versed in the team, its processes, and the language. These cars can be quite complex to figure out why you're either fast or slow."
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