Ferrari Urges Hamilton to Regroup After Frustrating Season Low

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is calling for composure from Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time Formula One champion delivered a blunt assessment of his performance and declared his first season with the team the worst of his career. The remarks followed a difficult Las Vegas Grand Prix in which Hamilton qualified last and left the weekend expressing little enthusiasm for the final rounds ahead.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was expected to spark a resurgence, but the campaign has instead produced a string of setbacks. His struggles reached a new low in Las Vegas after he posted the slowest qualifying time and began the race from 20th. Despite climbing to 10th at the checkered flag — later adjusted to eighth after two rivals were disqualified — he still finished nearly a minute behind race winner Max Verstappen.

The results have widened the gap between Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc, who leads him by 74 points in the standings. Hamilton is also still searching for his first podium with the team and has been out-qualified by Leclerc in 17 of 22 rounds. The team’s broader performance has slipped as well, with Ferrari falling to fourth in the constructors’ championship. With Mercedes holding a 53-point advantage, Hamilton questioned whether the team could close the gap before season’s end.

Vasseur acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the Las Vegas weekend but cautioned against letting emotions dictate the final stretch. He pointed to Hamilton’s practice pace as evidence that the car carried potential and emphasized the need to regroup rather than dwell on the setback. The Ferrari boss stressed the importance of refocusing ahead of Qatar and Abu Dhabi, and of approaching the remaining events with a clear mindset.

Hamilton returns to competition in Doha, where fellow Briton Lando Norris has a chance to secure his first world championship. Norris can clinch the title by outscoring Verstappen and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri across the upcoming weekend.Source