The Formula 1 world is reeling after Ferrari’s dramatic response to Lewis Hamilton’s lackluster performance at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, who joined the Scuderia with sky-high expectations, endured a torrid weekend in Jeddah, finishing a distant seventh—31 seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who claimed Ferrari’s first podium of the season. Hamilton’s post-race comments were grim, calling the race “horrible” and admitting he was “sliding around” with “zero positives” to take away. But it’s Ferrari’s bold statement that has sent shockwaves through the paddock.
Team principal Fred Vasseur, known for his no-nonsense approach, didn’t mince words. In a fiery, expletive-laden rant, he defended Hamilton’s struggles, insisting the 40-year-old’s frustration is a “positive” sign of his competitive fire. “It’s not a transitional season for Lewis. He’s down because he’s a racer, and that’s good. If he was happy with seventh, I’d be worried,” Vasseur declared. He vowed to back Hamilton “2,000 percent,” signaling Ferrari’s unwavering commitment to their star driver despite his rocky start. The statement comes as a stark reminder of the intense pressure Hamilton faces to deliver in red.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was billed as a dream partnership, but five races into 2025, it’s been a nightmare. His best grand prix result is a fifth in Bahrain, and his sprint win in China feels like a distant memory. In Jeddah, he qualified seventh, half a second off Leclerc, and struggled with the SF-25’s handling, describing it as “alien.” Telemetry data exposed Ferrari’s woes in slow-speed corners, where Hamilton’s confidence visibly wanes. Fans are questioning whether the ground-effect era cars, which Hamilton called “the worst,” are exposing a decline in his adaptability at 40.
Yet, Ferrari’s response isn’t just blind loyalty. Vasseur hinted at a deeper strategy, urging Hamilton and the team to “go back to the drawing board” before the Miami Grand Prix. Both Hamilton and Leclerc will head to Maranello this week to dissect the SF-25’s issues, with a major upgrade package planned for May. “The potential is there,” Vasseur insisted, pointing to Leclerc’s podium as proof the car can compete. The team’s focus is clear: fix the qualifying woes that have plagued them for two years and unlock Hamilton’s championship pedigree.
The F1 rumor mill is buzzing. Some speculate Hamilton’s candid “brain transplant” comment—suggesting he’s struggling to gel with the car—has ruffled feathers among Ferrari’s top brass. Others see Vasseur’s fiery defense as a calculated move to shield Hamilton from mounting criticism. With McLaren and Red Bull pulling ahead, Ferrari’s fourth-place constructors’ standing is a bitter pill. As the season heads to Miami, all eyes are on Hamilton. Can he silence the doubters, or will Ferrari’s gamble on the F1 legend backfire spectacularly?
