Lewis Hamilton‘s downbeat demeanour in front of the cameras throughout his difficult debut campaign with Ferrari does not reflect his true attitude within the team, according to Scuderia boss Frédéric Vasseur. The seven-time world champion endured a challenging transition to Maranello, yet his team principal insists the Briton’s internal commitment and energy remain unwavering despite what the public may perceive.
Hamilton’s maiden season in red fell well short of expectations. For the first time in his illustrious career, he failed to secure a single podium finish, ending the championship in sixth place and trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc by 86 points. The struggles were particularly acute in qualifying, where Hamilton became the first full-time Ferrari driver to suffer three consecutive first-round eliminations across the final races from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi.
Public frustration masks private determination
The 40-year-old’s frustration spilled into his media obligations on multiple occasions. Brief interviews lasting barely half a minute and one-word written responses suggested a driver deeply uncomfortable with his predicament. Yet Vasseur argues this apparent disengagement represents an authentic emotional response rather than a character flaw, and one he finds preferable to hollow platitudes.
“When you are out in Q1, I hope the driver is mega upset with himself and with the team,” Vasseur explained. “I’m not sure that you, journalist, you prefer to have someone going to the TV pen saying, ‘no, everything is normal, blah, blah, blah’ – all the usual bullshit.”
The Frenchman emphasised that what happens away from the cameras matters far more than brief exchanges in the media pen. Hamilton’s approach behind closed doors tells a different story entirely, one characterised by constructive collaboration and determination to extract solutions from difficult circumstances.
Internal collaboration outweighs external appearances
Vasseur made clear that Hamilton’s conduct within the team environment has been exemplary throughout the challenging campaign. Rather than allowing disappointment to fester, the British driver has channelled his frustration into productive debriefings and detailed technical discussions with Ferrari’s engineering staff.
“It’s much better to have someone not speaking in the TV pen and coming back to the debriefing, speaking with the engineers, trying to find solutions,” said the team principal. “It’s the attitude that Lewis had even when he had a tough moment in the last part of the season and this is putting a positive energy into the team.”
This distinction between public perception and private reality forms a crucial part of Vasseur’s defence of his driver. The Ferrari boss also acknowledged his own reluctance to engage extensively with media questioning immediately after difficult race results, drawing a parallel with Hamilton’s position. For Vasseur, Ferrari’s path forward depends more on internal cohesion than maintaining appearances for external consumption.
Underestimated magnitude of change
Vasseur admitted he had not fully anticipated the scale of adjustment Hamilton would face in leaving Mercedes after 12 trophy-laden seasons. The transition involved far more than simply adapting to a different car philosophy or relocating to Italy.
“I personally underestimate the step,” the 57-year-old conceded. “It’s not that we are doing worse or better, it’s that we are just doing differently. It’s not just about the food or the weather, it’s that every single software is different, every single component is different. The people around him, they were different.”
This comprehensive reset affected everything from steering wheel controls to suspension feedback, from team communication protocols to data analysis methods. Such fundamental changes take time to absorb, particularly for a driver who had spent over a decade perfecting his relationship with one team’s ecosystem. The challenge was compounded by Ferrari’s own struggles, as the team slipped from second to fourth in the constructors’ standings across a disappointing campaign for the Scuderia.
Building foundations for a stronger 2026
Despite the difficulties of 2025, Vasseur remains confident that Hamilton’s adaptation process will yield results as the team regroups for the new season. The foundations laid through honest internal dialogue and technical collaboration should provide a stronger platform moving forward.
Ferrari’s challenge now involves translating that behind-the-scenes commitment into tangible on-track performance. The team has not won a constructors’ championship since 2008, and bridging that 18-year gap will require both drivers firing on all cylinders. With Hamilton now fully embedded in the Scuderia’s systems and processes, the hope is that his second season in red will prove far more competitive than his first.
