Ferrari Formula 1 boss Frederic Vasseur has disregarded possible concerns over Lewis Hamilton’s one-lap troubles in 2024 prior to his move to the team next season.
Hamilton, who will depart Mercedes to complete a switch to Ferrari next season, has taken a record 104 pole positions to stand as F1’s most decorated ever qualifier.
However, the seven-time F1 champion’s pace has deserted him over one lap when it’s counted this season as team-mate George Russell leads the head-to-head 10-4.
Hamilton’s struggles to replicate encouraging practice pace in critical moments prompted an email to emerge claiming that Mercedes was sabotaging his prospects.
But the allegation was denied, and Hamilton has since sustained an uptick in results as he’s capitalised on Mercedes’ revival to attain victories in Britain and Belgium.
READ MORE: Mercedes details change behind Hamilton’s F1 2024 turnaround
Russell headed Hamilton in a Mercedes 1-2 at Spa-Francorchamps, but he was later excluded due to an underweight car to give his team-mate a 105th career F1 win.
Vasseur has pinpointed Hamilton’s 34-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship as evidence that there should be no worries raised over the Briton’s level in 2024.
“Everyone has been saying since the beginning that Russell is faster than Hamilton, but at the moment he is the one who has scored more points for Mercedes,” he told Sky Italy.
“In terms of efficiency, I think he’s a good benchmark.
“We know the positive aspects of Lewis’ arrival at Ferrari. For example, his great experience in Formula 1.”
Hamilton will come in alongside incumbent Charles Leclerc at Ferrari as he replaces Carlos Sainz, who has since penned a multi-term contract to drive with Williams.
Ferrari began the 2024 campaign as Red Bull’s closest challenger with a revamped SF-24 car that eradicated the capricious tendencies that hindered its predecessor.
However, the marque has regressed since introducing updates in Spain that have caused recurring bouncing and cost the team up to “three months” in development.
Leclerc, in particular, seemed to endure more trouble as experimental set-ups on his car contributed to him adding zero points in the Austrian and British Grands Prix.
But Vasseur has admitted that Ferrari has to shoulder some blame over the woes that have blighted Leclerc’s season since he logged a maiden home win in Monaco.
“Charles has had some problems over the last few weekends, but I still think he’s lucid and the truth is that sometimes we’ve collectively overdone it,” Vasseur added.
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