Lewis Hamilton on Ferrari’s Media Challenges
Lewis Hamilton has voiced his concern over the impact of media criticism on Ferrari’s Formula 1 team, a sentiment that comes amid a particularly challenging season for the Scuderia. Despite the team’s cautious public goals for 2025, expectations were high following a near miss in the 2024 constructors’ championship, where they fell just 14 points short of McLaren. However, 2025 has been a different story, with Ferrari failing to secure a single race win and even Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, struggling to reach the podium.
The Weight of Italian Media Scrutiny
The Scuderia is under intense scrutiny, especially from the Italian media, which has been particularly harsh. This scrutiny reached a peak in June when respected Italian publications like La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera speculated about team boss Frederic Vasseur’s potential dismissal. According to Hamilton, the constant negative coverage extends beyond the team’s performance on the track. “The negativity that’s constantly within the media and everything like that, that affects them,” Hamilton observed. “They get home to their wives and their wives say ‘they’ve been saying this about where you work’, and I’m sure that’s tough, and the kids, and all those things. So there’s a huge effect on lots of people.”
Vasseur’s Resilience and Focus
When Vasseur was asked about the “negative feeling” within the team, he acknowledged the challenge but emphasized the need to stay focused. “For sure, it’s not helping, but it’s our job that you know that you do good results,” he stated. “Quite often you are world champion, you are in a tough session, you are nowhere, but as a team we have to stay in our bubble and try to get the best from what we have.” Vasseur drew inspiration from Max Verstappen, who has shown resilience in the face of similar challenges. “Max was able to do it. He was [P8] in quali in Budapest, he was [P9] in the race, and then he started to win races. It means that you can come back.”
Late-Season Struggles and Strategic Decisions
Ferrari’s season took a significant turn as the year progressed, with the team sliding out of contention for second or even third in the constructors’ championship. One of the key strategic decisions was to halt development of the 2025 car as early as late April to focus on the new technical regulations for 2026. Despite this, Hamilton supported the decision. “The development has not been an issue,” he stated. “I wanted them to move to next year’s car. I wanted to make sure we started early.” However, the mid- to late-season performance of the SF-25 was notably unstable, especially evident at the Losail track in Qatar, where both Ferrari drivers expressed their frustration.
Team Morale and the Path Forward
The team’s morale has been visibly affected, with both Ferrari drivers appearing dejected in the media pen following the Qatar GP. “I can understand their frustration,” Vasseur acknowledged. “And trust me, if you asked me the question when I’m on the pitwall at the end of the session, I think I would have replied probably with the same words. And I understand their frustration in the TV pen. Now the most important is when they are back into the garage with the mechanics, the engineers, to try to find a solution.” Vasseur’s words highlight the team’s commitment to solving their issues and recovering in 2026.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter in 2026
As the 2025 season draws to a close, the focus for Ferrari is firmly on the future. The decision to prioritize the 2026 car development was a strategic move aimed at long-term success rather than short-term gains. While the current season has been tough, Vasseur’s resilience and the team’s dedication to finding solutions offer a glimmer of hope. The Scuderia’s ability to bounce back will be crucial as they prepare for the new technical regulations and aim to reclaim their place at the forefront of Formula 1 in the coming year.
