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Saajan Jogia is a motorsport and automotive writer with over ten years of experience. His passion for cars and motorcycles has been a driving force behind his evolution as a writer. He has extensively covered Formula 1, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, WEC, and technology for publications including Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Newsweek, and Men’s Journal.
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Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed an approach that could help a “self-critical” Lewis Hamilton, who is “always extreme in his outbursts.” The seven-time world champion appeared dejected at the Hungaroring recently, where he said that he was “useless” and that Ferrari should look for another driver.
Hamilton is finding it challenging to adapt to his SF-25 F1. While the early rounds of the 2025 season, such as his sprint race victory in China, suggested a promising premier class season ahead, the ground reality on the racetrack has been different.
In Hungary, the Briton was knocked out in Q2 by securing P12 in qualifying, only to finish the race in the same position. The result was one of his worst since his Ferrari debut. Vasseur pointed out the need for Hamilton to “stay calm” and not allow the disappointing race result to affect his morale and confidence.
In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Vasseur was asked what he could do to make Hamilton feel more comfortable at Ferrari. He said:
Ferrari’s British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Ferrari’s French team principal Frederic Vasseur speak ahead of the first practice session for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at the Imola autodrome in Imola,…
Ferrari’s British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Ferrari’s French team principal Frederic Vasseur speak ahead of the first practice session for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at the Imola autodrome in Imola, on May 16, 2025.
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Marco BERTORELLO / AFP/Getty Images
“Stay calm. Build on the fact that he’s already taken the first step. Don’t let things like Budapest get him down. Lewis is very self-critical. He’s always extreme in his outbursts.
“Sometimes he’s too harsh on the car, sometimes on himself. He wants to get the most out of himself and everyone in the team. You have to calm him down and explain to him that in Q2 he was only a tenth behind the driver who later took pole position. That’s not a big deal.”
Vasseur added that Hamilton’s statements to the press make matters worse. However, he remains calm with the team. The team boss also emphasized that Hamilton’s reaction was not drama but his way of demanding a lot, a point that Vasseur has no problems with. He said:
“The message he sends out only makes things worse. He’s usually only that extreme with the press. By the time he gets to the briefing room, he’s usually calmed down again. That’s just his way. For me, it’s not a drama. He demands a lot. From others, but also from himself. I can live with that.”
Vasseur highlighted a similar experience with Nico Hülkenberg since his Formula 3 days. He added:
“Nico Hülkenberg was the same when he drove for me in Formula 3. He demanded an enormous amount from the team. But he was also on the mat every morning at 6:30 a.m.”