After the recent United States Grand Prix, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur made a statement that caught the attention of fans: Lewis Hamilton is back. This is not just praise for the driver’s condition, but also an affirmation—this seven-time world champion has finally regained his competitive rhythm since joining Ferrari earlier this year. After several months of adjustment, Hamilton secured fourth place in both the short race and the main race at the American circuit, showing the positive results of gradually adapting to a new environment.
Vasseur stated after the race that Hamilton was faster than his teammate Charles Leclerc for more than two-thirds of the race. Although Leclerc ultimately finished in third place, Hamilton’s consistent pace and overall performance have shown the team the potential for a strong battle between both drivers. Vasseur highlighted: This is a positive development for the team, creating a competitive atmosphere within the squad to push each other forward. In upcoming races, we will unleash the full potential of both cars..
At this American leg of the race, Ferrari not only showcased speed but also revealed a matured strategic approach. Leclerc secured a third-place finish in the main race and a fifth in the sprint, bringing valuable points to Ferrari. On the team standings, they successfully narrowed the points gap with Mercedes down to just seven, making the competition more intense. Vasseur pointed out that although the opening on Friday was rocky, the overall adjustments and performance over the weekend were considerable: We face quite a few challenges, but from race strategies to driver responses, we’re doing pretty well.
Speaking about the challenging Friday, he added: The performance in the short-distance race was fairly acceptable, but we encountered issues with tire adjustments during the qualifying rounds, which prevented us from fully realizing our potential at a critical moment.. However, he also emphasized that compared to McLaren and Red Bull, Ferrari has shown significant improvement in this race. The team has been consistently enhancing their performance since the start of the season, particularly in terms of tire management, which is gradually stabilizing.
It’s worth noting that Vasseur emphasized that the key to improved overall performance lies in how well the tires can unleash their potential, which has always been crucial for determining racing performance. Ferrari has faced challenges in tire temperature management and wear during several races, but this time at the US Grand Prix shows that they’ve made significant strides in this area.
Although Ferrari still needs to refine its pace in short races, the performance during the main event has been encouraging. Hamilton’s condition has clearly improved, and Leclerc continues to maintain his steady standard, which boosts the team’s confidence heading into the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. Vasseur stated: Our strategy is becoming increasingly bold, and the results of this competition clearly confirm that we are on the right path. In the upcoming events, we aim to maintain this momentum..
Although Hamilton faced many technical and psychological adjustments when he first joined Ferrari, his competitiveness has clearly rebounded today. The team believes that when both drivers can perform at their highest level, Ferrari is likely to rewrite the course of the season, potentially even challenging Mercedes’ position. Regardless of whether they can ultimately surpass their rivals, Hamilton’s return to form is undoubtedly a timely and crucial step for Ferrari.
