Final summer season, Lewis Hamilton dejectedly stated in an interview after lacking out on Q3 on the Hungaroring that he was “ineffective”. Now, the Briton is the closest challenger to the Mercedes drivers within the championship standings. Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur has additionally mirrored on that exceptional turnaround.
Final summer season, after being eradicated in Q1 in each Dash Qualifying and common Qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps within the 2025 season, Hamilton didn’t make Q3 on the Hungaroring both, whereas Charles Leclerc claimed pole place for Ferrari. He stated that Saturday: “I am ineffective, completely ineffective. The group don’t have any downside. You have seen the automotive’s on pole. So we in all probability want to vary driver.”
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This summer season, the image seems to be so much totally different. Hamilton simply gained his first Grand Prix in Ferrari purple, and is second within the drivers’ standings. The seven-time world champion is now being considered a driver within the title battle with the 2 Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. He at present trails the Italian by 41 factors. Toto Wolff additionally already warned about his former driver, explaining that he doesn’t wish to battle him for the largest prize.
“I might slightly not struggle with him for a title. I am not nice with him for a title as a result of I do know what he is able to. If he smells blood, he goes. I’ve seen it a few years the place abruptly the practice, the Lewis Hamilton practice, began to go after which it is very tough to cease it,”.
Lewis Hamilton and Frederic Vasseur – Photograph: Race Footage
Lewis Hamilton and Frederic Vasseur – Photograph: Race Footage
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Vasseur on Hamilton’s turnaround
The Ferrari group boss was requested about what occurred during the last 12 months. He instructed GPblog, amongst others:”It is so much about resilience as a result of I feel he needed to face powerful moments. His final season at Mercedes was not a straightforward one, his first season with us was not straightforward. He had powerful moments. Spa was a spot final 12 months the place he was a bit down, struggling to construct up the connection with the group. However he was in a position to hold the identical vitality into the challenge to have the ability to push on the manufacturing unit. It’s clearly a part of the end result, the truth that the 2 drivers are totally behind us and pushing us is essential for the long run.”
Vasseur is constructive about Leclerc
Whereas Hamilton has been always on the rostrum lately, the Monegasque driver has had extra difficulties. Nonetheless, the Frenchman is constructive concerning the Leclerc.
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He added: “I am extra constructive about Charles than two weeks in the past or three weeks in the past. He had a very good factor going with the automotive. He was in confidence. He was in a position to struggle for pole place yesterday (earlier than his crash). And the truth that he was beginning P10 and we modified of the technique in the midst of the race, it was tough for him, that he pitted as soon as once more one lap earlier than the protection automotive. Luckily the sensation was significantly better for Charles at the moment.”
