Lewis Hamilton’s first win for Fred Vasseur’s workforce did not are available Barcelona on 14 June 2026. It got here greater than 20 years in the past in Components 3 Euro Collection.
Again then, the 20-year-old Hamilton received the opening spherical at Hockenheim driving for the Frenchman’s ASM workforce, earlier than occurring to dominate the season with 15 victories from 20 races. The next yr he moved as much as GP2, now with the newly shaped ART Grand Prix venture led by Vasseur, and received one other title that helped safe his Components 1 drive for 2007.
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When as soon as once more turned a driver of a workforce led by Vasseur, he was already a seven-time Components 1 world champion, probably the most profitable driver within the historical past of the game and one of the recognisable sporting figures on this planet.
He was already Sir Lewis Hamilton, in any case.
“We had superb success in F3, and likewise in GP2,” recalled Hamilton again within the winter of 2024 after signing his contract, whereas nonetheless making ready to finish his ultimate season with . “That is actually the place the inspiration of our relationship began. We all the time remained in contact. I assumed that was going to be a tremendous workforce supervisor at some stage and progress to F1, however on the time, he wasn’t considering that.
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“It was actually cool to see him step into the Alfa [Romeo] workforce. Then when he obtained the job at Ferrari, I used to be simply so completely satisfied for him. I believe simply the celebs aligned. I believe it actually would not have occurred with out him. So, I am actually grateful and actually excited in regards to the work that he is doing there.”
But the Hamilton that Vasseur obtained at Ferrari was not the one many nonetheless thought to be “prime” Hamilton.
Forward of his first yr with the Scuderia, Lewis turned 40, and it is honest to say the ultimate couple of seasons with Mercedes weren’t his greatest. Sure, he received at Silverstone and inherited one other victory at Spa after ‘s disqualification, however over these two years it was the youthful Brit who got here out on prime extra typically.
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Lewis Hamilton received a whole lot of races for Frederic Vasseur’s groups twenty years in the past
Lewis Hamilton received a whole lot of races for Frederic Vasseur’s groups twenty years in the past
Maybe it wasn’t an excessive amount of of against the law to imagine Hamilton had handed his peak. He most likely had, anyway. It is simply that now a whole lot of observers could have to rethink the speed at which he is declining.
Would Hamilton, 10 years youthful – or even perhaps 5 – have grabbed pole place in Barcelona as an alternative of lacking out by 0.064s? Probably. You may by no means be capable of reply that query. What final Sunday proved, nonetheless, is that he nonetheless has sufficient pace to ship a victory with a three-stop technique, chasing down two drivers in what has been the quickest automotive of 2026.
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Final yr, although, all of it appeared doom and gloom. After a spark within the type of a dash win in China, there weren’t many moments to rejoice. Hamilton struggled with the automotive, could not match ‘s tempo and have become concerned in sufficient tense radio exchanges with Riccardo Adami to make Ferrari’s official line that there have been no tensions tough to imagine.
Vasseur was the one accusing the media of blowing the tales out of proportion based mostly on what was broadcast throughout races – but that is precisely what a workforce principal is meant to do: defend his workforce.
Be that as it might, Hamilton more and more resembled a terrific champion approaching the tip of his profession. Slightly like throughout the ultimate years of his MotoGP journey. Or throughout his Mercedes comeback. The uncooked pace seemed to be fading, and motivation typically goes hand in hand with it.
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In 2025, it was tough to think about Hamilton would ever win a race with Ferrari
In 2025, it was tough to think about Hamilton would ever win a race with Ferrari
The honeymoon interval of becoming a member of the legendary workforce lasted only some months earlier than being changed by the routine of looking for these lacking tenths of a second.
These tenths weren’t simple to search out.
The proof appeared to level to 1 conclusion: Hamilton was just too outdated to essentially give Ferrari what it wanted.
At the exact same time, he was placing stress on the workforce.
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It was at Spa final July that he spoke about calling conferences with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna and Vasseur. He revealed he had despatched paperwork outlining structural changes the workforce wanted to make. He spoke about sitting down with chassis technical director Loic Serra and the heads of different departments, “speaking in regards to the engine for subsequent yr, speaking in regards to the entrance suspension, the rear suspension”. In regards to the “issues that I would like, points that I’ve with this automotive”.
For Vasseur, accommodating all of the modifications Hamilton was asking for most likely required greater than merely believing Lewis nonetheless had it. He wanted the workforce to imagine it too.
As a result of, sure, these modifications have been being requested by a seven-time world champion and probably the most profitable driver in Components 1 historical past. However they have been additionally being requested by a 40-year-old driver who could properly have been previous his peak. And his first season with Ferrari did little to disprove that principle.
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Carlo Santi was on the rostrum for Kimi Raikkonen’s ultimate Ferrari victory in Austin in 2018
Carlo Santi was on the rostrum for Kimi Raikkonen’s ultimate Ferrari victory in Austin in 2018
Essentially the most seen change this yr has maybe been the appointment of Carlo Santi as Hamilton’s race engineer.
Vasseur himself performed down the importance in his post-race media session on Sunday.
“I do not need to put Carlo in entrance or no matter, I believe it is an enormous effort from all people,” he shrugged. “Carlo is a part of the method and the match between Carlo and Lewis is an effective one. However, you recognize, we’ve to react as a bunch within the good and the unhealthy moments.
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“When it is a unhealthy second, I am making an attempt to guard the workforce and to take the blame for myself. In the present day, I do not need to put a division or somebody in entrance. If we’re getting outcomes, it is as a result of collectively we’re doing job.”
And that is comprehensible.
Highlighting Santi’s position in Hamilton’s revival would most likely put stress on the engineer himself whereas downplaying the contribution of others. As a supervisor, Vasseur would not want that.
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However the reality it was the 52-year-old from Verona standing alongside Lewis on the rostrum after his first Ferrari victory speaks volumes.
Santi’s earlier podium in Components 1 got here on 21 October 2018, when he joined on the podium after the Finn’s ultimate victory for Ferrari. From 2019 onwards, he moved right into a manufacturing unit position, supporting the race workforce from Maranello, earlier than returning trackside this season initially to help Hamilton whereas Ferrari looked for a everlasting substitute for Adami.
With the best way issues are going, and with Lewis already calling Santi his “Italian Bono” even earlier than Barcelona, he’s unlikely to be returning to the manufacturing unit any time quickly.
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Lewis Hamilton and his
Lewis Hamilton and his
Switching away from Brembo, given Ferrari’s long-standing relationship with the corporate, most likely wasn’t simple both. However Hamilton clearly likes one thing in regards to the Carbon Industrie package deal, and that was possible on his checklist of requests too.
There have been probably dozens of different, much less seen issues – as he lately put it – that he had “begged” Vasseur to accommodate.
Now, Lewis is thanking his outdated pal for doing precisely that.
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“Properly, firstly, I would not be on this workforce with out Fred,” he mentioned on Sunday in Barcelona throughout his first press convention as a Ferrari winner. “Fred is the one which made it occur, of which I am extremely grateful to him for. I believe final yr was actually, actually robust for him to cope with.
“Me coming was a giant shock to the system as a result of I’m very, very vocal. If I see one thing that I do not assume is correct, or I push very, very exhausting. That is on the core of who I’m and I am relentless with it. And I believe it is not simple to be on the receiving finish of that if you’re additionally juggling an entire organisation, you recognize, and a tradition that in its personal is about in a sure method.
“And in addition, you recognize, he is French in an Italian tradition. It was loads for him to juggle and I believe very, very robust as a result of clearly he would do media as properly. However he continued to imagine, continued to be pal, continued to be a terrific team-mate and an ally and actually supportive.
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Lewis Hamilton – now a Ferrari race winner
Lewis Hamilton – now a Ferrari race winner
“And, you recognize, in the end, he actually listened on the finish and I needed to actually ask, actually ask for among the modifications. And he enabled them to occur, which I am without end grateful for, as a result of this [victory] would not have occurred with out these modifications. So large, large thanks to him.”
When these phrases have been put to Vasseur himself simply minutes later, he as soon as once more downplayed his position.
“I’ve zero benefit on this,” he insisted. “It is extra Lewis himself, I believe. He was in a position to come again after a troublesome second, a troublesome journey, robust weekends. He was in a position to come again, to do a full reset and to proceed to push, to proceed to return to the manufacturing unit on Tuesday morning. This dedication is a big assist. Coming from a world champion, it is much more, I might say. It was additionally an enormous motivation for everyone on the manufacturing unit.”
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And that is comprehensible too. As a result of highlighting his personal position in Hamilton’s revival is not actually what supervisor does.
But Barcelona’s victory should have been an enormous aid for him as properly.
As a result of bringing seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari was a straightforward determination.
Persevering with to imagine in a 40-year-old driver who could have already got been previous his peak most likely wasn’t.
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