Hamilton’s performance in qualifying has been poor in 2024. Ferrari’s Formula 1 team boss, Frederic Vasseur, is not concerned about Lewis Hamilton’s struggles to secure pole positions before his move to Ferrari next season. Hamilton currently holds the record for the most pole positions in F1 history, with 104 to his name. However, this season, he has struggled to match his practice pace when it matters most, with his teammate George Russell outperforming him 10 times out of 14.
There were rumors that Mercedes was deliberately sabotaging Hamilton’s chances, but these allegations were denied. Since then, Hamilton’s performance has improved, and he has capitalized on Mercedes’ resurgence to win races in Britain and Belgium. Russell did finish ahead of Hamilton in a 1-2 Mercedes finish at Spa-Francorchamps, but he was later disqualified for having an underweight car, giving Hamilton his 105th career F1 victory.
Vasseur believes that Hamilton’s 34-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship is proof that there is no need to worry about his performance in 2024. He sees Hamilton as a good benchmark in terms of efficiency and acknowledges the positive aspects of his arrival at Ferrari, including his extensive experience in Formula 1. Hamilton will join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz, who has signed a multi-term contract with Williams.
Ferrari started the 2024 season as the closest competitor to Red Bull, thanks to their improved SF-24 car. However, updates introduced in Spain have caused issues, including bouncing, that have set the team back in terms of development. Leclerc has been particularly affected, failing to score any points in the Austrian and British Grands Prix due to experimental setups on his car. Vasseur admits that Ferrari shares some responsibility for the problems that have plagued Leclerc’s season since his victory in Monaco.
Overall, Vasseur remains confident in Hamilton’s abilities and believes that his arrival at Ferrari will bring positive contributions to the team. Despite the setbacks faced by both drivers, he remains optimistic about their prospects for the remainder of the season.
Photo from Lewis Hamilton Instagram
