Hamilton Criticism Grows, but Ferrari Still Backs Him

15/04/2025
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Hamilton Criticism Grows, but Ferrari Still Backs Him

Despite mounting pressure in Italy, Ferrari remains confident that Lewis Hamilton will find his rhythm after a shaky start to the 2025 season.

Ferrari has stepped in to defend Lewis Hamilton following growing criticism about his performance just four races into his debut season with the team. As expectations soar and results lag behind, the Italian press is turning up the heat.

It’s no secret: the SF-25 hasn’t lived up to the hype so far. Charles Leclerc has made that clear. But all eyes are now on the other car, the one driven by the seven-time world champion — and questions are starting to pile up.

Team principal Fred Vasseur revealed he gave Hamilton a bit of a push after a disappointing qualifying session in Bahrain, a move that helped the Brit bounce back on race day.

“We have to stay calm when judging performance,” Vasseur said. “Sometimes, a small mistake can make a decent weekend look like a disaster.”

“I really liked how Lewis responded after qualifying. I pushed him a bit, and in the race, he was sharp, consistent, and in great form.”

Vasseur defended Hamilton’s pace throughout the weekend, pointing out that until Q3, he was matching Leclerc to within a tenth of a second. But a deleted first lap and a small error in the second run cost him dearly.

“We pay the price because the grid isn’t set on averages — it’s about nailing that final lap. And when you miss it, even by two or three tenths, you’re suddenly starting six or seven places back.”

Hamilton clawed his way back to P5, and Vasseur praised his strong recovery drive: “His race pace was very close to that of the front runners. It was a solid race. He was consistent and fast — it was a good performance.”

As for the noise around Hamilton’s early months in red, Vasseur isn’t surprised. “We’re Latin — emotions run high. After the sprint in China, we were talking about the podium ceremony. After the second race, it was suddenly a disaster.”

“For me, it’s simple: we need to stay balanced. There will be highs and lows — that’s just the nature of this sport. But at Ferrari, the highs feel higher and the lows hit harder.”

Vasseur remains confident in the team’s direction. “We’ve done well over the past two years by staying steady. Now we just need to keep chasing those tiny gains — hundredths of a second at a time. That’s how we move forward.”

Hamilton Criticism Grows, but Ferrari Still Backs Him Hamilton Criticism Grows, but Ferrari Still Backs Him

Vasseur Urges Calm as Hamilton Faces Ferrari Heat
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