Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has conceded that Lewis Hamilton can “make things worse” when he “sometimes exaggerates problems he sees” with his car in Formula 1.
Vasseur has recognised both parties “underestimated” the challenge awaiting Hamilton when he made the much-anticipated switch during the winter from Mercedes.
The Frenchman’s revelation comes as Hamilton has endured an onerous debut season with the Italian marque, one that is threatening to end without a single podium.
Hamilton experienced another setback prior to the summer break as he started outside the top 10 in Hungary, while team-mate Charles Leclerc secured pole position.
That prompted a downcast Hamilton to express that he is now “useless” and even to suggest that Ferrari should contemplate having another driver alongside Leclerc.
The Briton’s mood improved little as he did not progress in the race, leading him to disclose that things are happening behind the scenes at Ferrari “that are not great”.
Vasseur, whose relationship with Hamilton pre-dates F1, stressed that it’s important to exude calmness when the seven-time F1 champion has an emotional outburst.
Asked what he can do to ease Hamilton’s transitional phase at Ferrari, Vasseur told Auto Motor und Sport: “Stay calm.
“Build on the fact that he has already taken the first step. Don’t let things like what happened in Budapest get you down.
“Lewis is very self-critical. He is always extreme in his reactions. Sometimes he is too hard 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 [in Hungary] he was only a tenth behind the driver [Leclerc] who took pole position. That’s no big deal.
“The message he sends out only makes things worse.
“Most of the time, he’s only that extreme with the press. By the time he comes into the briefing room, he’s usually calmed down again. That’s just his way.
“For me, it’s no big deal. He demands a lot. From others, but also from himself. I can live with that.”
How Ferrari intends to address Hamilton struggles
Hamilton divulged that he has been sending documents to Ferrari as he endeavours to ensure that he avoids encountering the issues that have hindered him in 2025.
The ex-Mercedes driver has struggled to master the engine braking that Ferrari uses, while there have also been complications with Brembo’s revised brake materials.
Vasseur has insisted that there is not one overriding element that has impacted Hamilton, whom he has contended has a tendency to overstate any problem he feels.
“We solve the problems step by step,” he continued. “They’re not huge, they just look that way.
“If the braking system isn’t quite how the driver would like it, then maybe half a tenth is lost there.
“From the outside, it’s often difficult to quickly identify exactly where he’s losing that half-tenth.
“Such a minimal time difference can ruin your whole weekend. It can be the difference between Q2 and Q3.
“Lewis sometimes exaggerates the problems he sees in the car. The team then naturally wants to respond and everyone jumps on the problem.”
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