Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has explained that he will have talks with Lewis Hamilton over his complaints about the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car in the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton experienced a bittersweet maiden home outing with Ferrari as he matched his best result with the team but missed out on securing a podium at Silverstone.
The Briton, whose inaugural British GP win occurred on a soaked track in 2008, assessed that the SF-25 was the most challenging car he has driven in wet conditions.
Hamilton twice endured wide moments – one at Copse on Intermediates and again at Village on slicks – that contributed to him losing out on third to Nico Hulkenberg.
That caused Hamilton to reveal that he is seeking a meeting with the team’s designers to ensure the problems that blighted him won’t be prevalent in the 2026 Ferrari.
However, Vasseur highlighted that pole-sitter Max Verstappen’s struggles to keep his Red Bull on track – culminating in a spin – showcased that Hamilton wasn’t alone.
“I think Max did the same,” Vasseur smiled to media including Motorsport Week, concerning Verstappen’s complaints about his Red Bull during the race.
“I didn’t have time to discuss with Lewis about the balance, but I think from the car, and he said this in the radio, ‘very snappy’, but it was not always true.”
How British GP exposed McLaren advantage
Vasseur contended that McLaren, which registered another dominant 1-2 with a 34-second gap to Hulkenberg behind, was the sole side to avoid a fluctuation in pace.
“I think it’s very difficult to have a consistent car,” the Frenchman continued.
“It’s where McLaren is much faster than everybody, because if you have a look, everybody is competitive, but [a] couple of laps,
it’s easier that we are competitive at the beginning of the stint, or at the end of the stint, or dependent on the tyre pressure,
and soon as you are a bit aware of this, you are struggling a lot, but let me discuss with Lewis.”
Ferrari unconcerned by pace deficit
Hamilton’s discontent with his car’s handling was nothing compared to Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, whose switch to slicks prior to the start wrecked his hopes.
“I’m not sure that the pure pace is the main issue today,” Vasseur cautioned. “What is true is that, on Charles at least, is that the race was done on lap one.
“We made the call to pick for slicks, and then the main issue we had today was that we struggled a lot when we were in the dirty air to overtake, and then we are much faster.
“It was a difficult weekend. Difficult for the strategy today. I think everybody has tons of regrets – except Norris, probably, and Nico – but when we finish the race like this,
you have always had the feeling that if I had pitted one lap before, one lap after, it would have been much better, but let’s be focused on quali and the championship.”
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