F1: Lewis Hamilton And I Underestimated Ferrari Challenge, Says Team Principal Fred Vasseur

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur feels he and Lewis Hamilton underestimated the challenges they would face this season, “stupidly expecting” complete control.

After 12 years with Mercedes, Hamilton made the switch to Ferrari as he replaced Carlos Sainz ahead of this season.

But it has been a less-than-ideal start for the 40-year-old, who has yet to finish on the podium this year after 14 races and is sixth in the drivers’ championship standings.

The seven-time world champion particularly struggled at the Hungarian Grand Prix right before the summer break, failing to reach the third round of qualifying for both the sprint and main race.

Hamilton labelled himself “useless” after team-mate Charles Leclerc secured pole position in Hungary, also hinting Ferrari may need to replace him if he does not improve.

Vasseur, who recently signed a multi-year contract to silence rumours he could depart, admits he did not anticipate the adjustment period Hamilton would require.

“Lewis and I, we collectively, probably underestimated the change of environment, and the fact that he spent, for me, 20 years in the same team,” Vasseur told The Race.

“McLaren was Mercedes, and then he moved to Mercedes, an English team [based in Brackley], the same engine guys, that same culture and so on.

“So, he spent 2006 to 2024, 18 years, in this environment, and then he arrived at Ferrari. And we were stupidly expecting that he would have everything under control.

“He's not a guy who has changed team every two years.

“You have guys on the grid that, if you have a look at Carlos, for example, he did Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, us and Williams in eight years.

“He changed four times. He's used to dealing with this. Lewis, it was not the case.

“Culturally speaking, there is a bigger difference between Ferrari and Mercedes than between Mercedes and McLaren. And this we underestimated.”