In a season that has given Ferrari fans more headaches than hope, Lewis Hamilton insists the Scuderia is “more united than ever” and “going from strength to strength” – a claim that might raise a few eyebrows given the team’s persistent slump in form.
The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari amid great fanfare, has yet to deliver a full Grand Prix podium in red. His only silver lining came via a Sprint Race win in China, while teammate Charles Leclerc has salvaged a handful of podiums to keep the team’s morale above water.
Still, Hamilton remains adamant that progress is being made – even if the results aren’t showing show it. So, what’s fueling this rosy outlook?
Hamilton’s Curious Confidence
At the centre of Hamilton’s optimism is team principal Fred Vasseur, whose leadership he credits with uniting the squad through a turbulent campaign.
“Fred’s support in me has been amazing,” Hamilton told reporters in Singapore. “It’s not been the perfect year as we know, but there’s been a lot of learnings. I think we’re just going from strength to strength.”
That assessment may sound overly generous for a team that began the year tipped as McLaren’s closest challenger but quickly faded into inconsistency. Yet Hamilton insists Ferrari’s internal cohesion has never been better.
“I think we are more solid and more united as a team than ever before,” he continued. “I think there’s clearly things that we need to improve on, but we’re under no illusions that that’s the case.
“Everyone’s just flat out focused on improving the processes. Right now, races like that, each race we’re learning something.”
For Hamilton, the setbacks of 2025 are part of a long-term refinement process.
“We look at the last race and our shortcomings, for example, are things that it’s better to have now when we’re not fighting for a championship than in the moment we are.”
It’s a pragmatic take, but one could argue that without its “shortcomings”, Ferrari – and Hamilton in particular – might already have a few headline results to their name.
Vasseur’s Leadership: A Unifying Force or a Lightning Rod?
Vasseur’s tenure at Ferrari has been anything but smooth. Last summer, the team’s dismal form fuelled speculation over his job security – rumours that were silenced when the Frenchman received a contract extension.
And both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who share long histories with Vasseur from their junior years in the sport, have rallied behind him.
But is this loyalty a sign of genuine unity, or are Ferrari’s drivers simply closing ranks around a embattled leader?
Hamilton’s admiration for Vasseur runs deep, dating back to 2006 when he raced under him in GP2, clinching the title that launched his F1 career.
©Ferrari
Asked if Vasseur has changed in the intervening 19 years, Hamilton offered an emphatic reply.
“Not Fred! Fred still wears the same clothes. He’s exactly the same as he was. Everything is exactly the same, generally,” he said.
It was a lighthearted jab, but Hamilton’s tone turned serious as he praised Vasseur’s approach.
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“I always admired him heavily when I was in the lower categories, the way he worked with the team. He’s a straight shooter, clearly a massive competitor,” he said. “But I always admired him.
“I came from a couple of different teams, they’re focused on where they spend their money. He was on other areas. He was all about aerodynamics and performance.
“That’s what he’s all about today. He’s all about car performance. Which I think is the strength of his.”
©Ferrari
Hamilton’s glowing endorsement of Vasseur and his insistence that Ferrari is “more united as a team than ever before” are hard to reconcile with the Scuderia’s on-track woes.
The SF-25’s struggles suggest a deeper issue – perhaps in strategy, car development, or execution—that no amount of team spirit can fully mask.
While Hamilton’s faith in Vasseur’s leadership and the team’s long-term potential is commendable, it’s tough to shake the skepticism.
For now, Ferrari’s “strength to strength” narrative feels more like a hope than a reality, leaving fans to wonder if Hamilton’s optimism is a sign of insight or just a champion’s refusal to admit defeat.
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