Vasseur: Hamilton and Ferrari 'underestimated' adaptation process

Of course, this does not mean the Frenchman is oblivious to the team’s limitations and the difficulties Hamilton has faced since arrival.

Vassuer recognises that getting the 7-time Champion to perform at his best will take considerable effort throughout the team.

Ferrari working to get the best out of Lewis Hamilton

Aside from Hamilton’s victory in the China Sprint Race, there have been very few highlights for the British driver at Ferrari.

The 40-year-old is still adapting to the SF-25, a car which he describes as incompatible with his driving style.

Hamilton has also made it a point to emphasise he played no part in the car’s development, and by extension its characteristics.

At the same time, the former Mercedes driver has also acknowledged his own shortcomings.

The most obvious example of this was after qualifying in Hungary, when Hamilton called himself “useless” after being eliminated in Q2.

At arguably Hamilton’s best circuit, it was a huge psychological blow to qualify outside the top 10 whilst Charles Leclerc clinched Pole Position.

Still, Fred Vasseur is not worried about the #44 driver’s underlying pace being an issue.

Instead, the Ferrari team principal believes more emphasis must be placed into helping the 40-year-old adapt to his new environment:

“Lewis and I, we collectively, probably underestimated the change of environment,” Vasseur told The Race.

“And the fact that he spent, for me, 20 years in the same team.

“McLaren was Mercedes, and then he moved to Mercedes – an English team. Aame engine guys, that same culture and so on.

“So he spent 2006 -2024, 18 years, in this environment, and then he arrived at Ferrari.

“And we were stupidly expecting that he will have everything under control…

“Culturally speaking, there is a bigger difference between Ferrari and Mercedes than between Mercedes and McLaren. And this we underestimated.”

Pressure to deliver in 2026

There is always scrutiny on Ferrari, more so than other teams, to deliver results. Having failed to win a race all season, there will be pressure on the Scuderia to win at least once in 2025.

Not since the 2021 campaign have the Italian squad failed to win.

Considering how last year’s campaign ended, Ferrari’s failure to build on their momentum has been a huge blow.

This only raises the stakes ahead of next season, when the Maranello-based operation simply must deliver.

Putting aside their almost twenty-year Championship drought, there is much at stake for Hamilton and Leclerc in 2026.

For Hamilton, an uncompetitive package next year would essentially cement his move to Ferrari as a mistake. Even assuming Ferrari could recover from a slow start in 2026 (which in itself is not guaranteed) the 40-year-old does not have time to waste.

Leclerc, meanwhile, is already in his seventh season at the team.

If Ferrari are not Championship contenders next year, even the Monegasque will have to re-evaluate his position at the team.