Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur isn’t mincing words — if the Scuderia wants to return to championship glory, it’s not just the car that needs work. Everyone, including their newest star signing Lewis Hamilton, has a role to play in this rebuild.
A Transition Year in Maranello
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was one of the biggest headlines in F1 — a seven-time world champion leaving Mercedes after over a decade to chase glory in red. But while fans dream of instant wins, the reality is more complex.
After the season opener in Bahrain, Hamilton admitted he’s still adapting to life in the SF-25. “I’m learning how to drive this car,” he said, reflecting on a weekend that saw him claw back from P9 in qualifying to finish fifth, just behind Charles Leclerc.
For Vasseur, this transition period is both expected and essential.
“You don’t replace 12 years of collaboration in two races,” he told reporters. “We need to improve, yes. But that includes everyone in the team — drivers included. Lewis knows he has to adapt too.”
A Two-Way Street: Car Meets Driver
One of the key messages from Vasseur is that development is not one-sided. It’s not just about tailoring the car to suit Hamilton’s style — the British driver must also learn to adjust. And from the outside, it seems that relationship is developing in a healthy, constructive way.
“We’ll adapt the car to Lewis,” Vasseur said. “But he has to take a step as well — and so far, he is. It’s all moving in a very positive direction.”
Progress Already Visible
Despite the bumps in qualifying, Hamilton’s Bahrain performance was a step forward. Vasseur praised his race-day form, noting the visible progress from Saturday to Sunday. Hamilton himself highlighted the middle stint of the race, where things began to click.
“I felt really aligned with the car,” Lewis said after the race. “My driving style seemed to work in that moment, and I learned a lot — probably more than in all the other weekends combined.”
He also mentioned a growing understanding of how different the Ferrari behaves compared to what he was used to at Mercedes.
The Bigger Picture
For Ferrari, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of learning and long-term strategy — not just for Hamilton, but for the entire team. Vasseur, Leclerc, Hamilton, and the engineering crew are focused on creating a unified direction, rather than chasing instant results.
The signs are already there — Hamilton’s pace is improving, the SF-25 is showing flashes of promise, and the vibe within the team seems more cohesive than in recent years.
With 20+ races to go and a long-term goal in sight, Ferrari’s success will depend on more than raw speed. It’s about building chemistry, learning fast, and evolving together — something Hamilton, now deep into his F1 journey, appears fully ready to embrace.
