Latest news with #SF-25F1
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ferrari Reveals Approach to Help Hamilton Who is 'Extreme in His Outbursts'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has revealed an approach that could help a "self-critical" Lewis Hamilton, who is "always extreme in his outbursts." The seven-time world champion appeared dejected at the Hungaroring recently, where he said that he was "useless" and that Ferrari should look for another driver. Hamilton is finding it challenging to adapt to his SF-25 F1. While the early rounds of the 2025 season, such as his sprint race victory in China, suggested a promising premier class season ahead, the ground reality on the racetrack has been different. In Hungary, the Briton was knocked out in Q2 by securing P12 in qualifying, only to finish the race in the same position. The result was one of his worst since his Ferrari debut. Vasseur pointed out the need for Hamilton to "stay calm" and not allow the disappointing race result to affect his morale and confidence. In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Vasseur was asked what he could do to make Hamilton feel more comfortable at Ferrari. He said: Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Ferrari's French team principal Frederic Vasseur speak ahead of the first practice session for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at the Imola autodrome in Imola,... Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton (L) and Ferrari's French team principal Frederic Vasseur speak ahead of the first practice session for the 2025 Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix at the Imola autodrome in Imola, on May 16, 2025. More Marco BERTORELLO / AFP/Getty Images "Stay calm. Build on the fact that he's already taken the first step. Don't let things like Budapest get him down. Lewis is very self-critical. He's always extreme in his outbursts. "Sometimes he's too harsh 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 he was only a tenth behind the driver who later took pole position. That's not a big deal." Vasseur added that Hamilton's statements to the press make matters worse. However, he remains calm with the team. The team boss also emphasized that Hamilton's reaction was not drama but his way of demanding a lot, a point that Vasseur has no problems with. He said: "The message he sends out only makes things worse. He's usually only that extreme with the press. By the time he gets to the briefing room, he's usually calmed down again. That's just his way. For me, it's not a drama. He demands a lot. From others, but also from himself. I can live with that." Vasseur highlighted a similar experience with Nico Hülkenberg since his Formula 3 days. He added: "Nico Hülkenberg was the same when he drove for me in Formula 3. He demanded an enormous amount from the team. But he was also on the mat every morning at 6:30 a.m."
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ferrari Boss Slams F1 Media For Rumors That Delayed His Contract Extension
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team principal Fred Vasseur has hit out at the media for allegedly spreading rumors that delayed his contract extension. Vasseur was also frustrated about the speculation surrounding his driver, Charles Leclerc, and the team's chassis technical director, Loïc Serra. Ferrari has been experiencing several challenges this season, mostly pertaining to the team's SF-25 F1 car and Lewis Hamilton's struggles in adapting to the car. Vasseur's future with the team had not been confirmed until an announcement was made just before the summer break. The delay led to rumors that he might be asked to step down by Ferrari. What added fuel to the speculation was Red Bull's ousting of its team principal, Christian Horner, after the British Grand Prix, leading to reports about Ferrari replacing Vasseur with Horner. Vasseur admitted that the rumors created "turmoil" within his team, especially since Italian fans "react more emotionally" to any news about Ferrari, a team they are extremely passionate about. The rumor mill didn't spare Leclerc either, linking him to a potential switch to Mercedes, despite him revealing his commitment to Ferrari. Vasseur also opened up on how a rumor blamed Serra for the problems on the SF-25, even though he joined the team in October 2024. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 28, 2024 in Spa, Belgium. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 28, 2024 in Spa, to Auto Motor und Sport, Vasseur called out the media for spreading the rumors and acknowledged the challenge in stopping them. He said: "Rumors caused the turmoil. I didn't start them, the media did. Neither Ferrari nor I spoke. But today, you can't avoid such interference. I don't want to tar all journalists with the same brush. But with the internet, reporting has become much more aggressive. "There's a pressure to generate clicks. When these rumors first surfaced in Canada, I was really angry. Because they went too far. "My technical director, Loïc Serra, was accused of not doing a good job. And yet, the 2025 car was practically ready when Loïc started working for us. "The story with Charles Leclerc was similar. Some people regularly wrote that Charles was going to Mercedes. Nobody cared that he repeatedly confirmed he had a long-term contract with Ferrari." Vasseur then explained the impact such reporting has had on his team, highlighting that his contract extension would have happened much earlier without the rumors. He said: "That has an impact on the team. In Italy, people react more emotionally. Without this background noise, my talks with Ferrari would have been much quicker."
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Ferrari F1 Makes $58 Million Revenue Through Lewis Hamilton Amid Challenges
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team has reportedly earned an impressive revenue of over $58 million (€50 million) due to Lewis Hamilton's arrival at the team in January. The seven-time world champion made his Ferrari race debut at the Australian Grand Prix this year. Hamilton's bombshell move to Ferrari was highly anticipated after the announcement was made ahead of the 2024 season. This was not only for sporting reasons, but also given the iconic nature of the partnership in the premier class of racing. However, apart from the Briton's sprint race victory in China, he has been struggling to extract maximum performance from Ferrari's SF-25 F1 car. The most recent race at the Hungaroring saw him finish in P12, his worst in the 2025 season thus far. Despite the ongoing challenges on the racetrack, Ferrari has been making major gains financially through its partnership with Hamilton, as reported by Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport. The report stated: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari gives a thumbs up on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025... Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari gives a thumbs up on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. More"Hamilton's presence has increased sponsorship revenues by around €50 million annually. In April 2024, following the announcement of the driver's signing, an agreement was signed with HP for €80-90 million: the Reds returned to having a title sponsor after three years. "This and the other contracts, signed prematurely, are not affected by the disappointing results. The other lever is brand exploitation (fashion, merchandising, licensing)." [Translated by Google] The revenue would have been higher if Ferrari and Hamilton had delivered better results. Speaking on the financial boost for Ferrari, Giovanni Palazzi, president of StageUp, said: "The increase in merchandising and the increase in sponsorship revenue can be explained by Hamilton's appeal, as he's not just a driver but a living sporting legend. His image transcends Formula 1 and speaks to a global audience, bridging sport, fashion, and pop culture. "This global charisma, combined with the legend of the Prancing Horse, created an irresistible combination for fans and brands at the time of the announcement and then the start of this season, resulting in record sales and top-level partnerships. "Naturally, there's a weakness: if the negative results persist, the legend could also suffer, impacting enthusiasm and commercial returns." Ferrari needs to outperform McLaren on the racetrack to increase its revenue further. Team principal Fred Vasseur revealed that Ferrari must remain consistent on race weekends to compete with the dominant Papaya outfit. Newsweek Sports reported his comments: "I think that the advantage that they [McLaren] have today is that they are always there – it doesn't matter [the conditions]. OK, in qualifying, we were a bit faster, but it was marginal, and they are performing in every single condition when we are a bit more inconsistent during the weekend. "We need to be very consistent in every single condition. In the free practice to have a good preparation for the race, in Q1, Q2, Q3, with all the sets in the race, with the different compounds and so on. I think it's where today they are a bit more performant than us."
Newsweek
09-08-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Reveals Honest Ferrari Verdict After Bombshell 2025 Switch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Lewis Hamilton has given his honest first impression of working at Ferrari following his move to the iconic Formula One team ahead of the 2025 season. Hamilton revealed that he was "expecting energy" at Ferrari's Maranello base, given the passion that the team is known for. But did the team meet his expectations? Despite a long and successful 12-year career at Mercedes, where Hamilton celebrated eight team championships and six drivers' titles, the seven-time world champion decided to switch teams, seeking his eighth title with the legendary outfit. The presence of his former GP2 team boss, Fred Vasseur, who is now the team principal at Ferrari, is said to have played a major role in Hamilton's decision to make the big switch. But since his move to the red team, Hamilton has been struggling to adapt to the Ferrari SF-25 F1 car, and as a result, he has yet to win a race or secure a podium finish. The last race at the Hungaroring saw him start the race in P12. Failing to gain positions, Hamilton finished in the same place. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari looks on in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 31, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari looks on in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 31, 2025 in Barcelona, asked recently about his Ferrari onboarding and if the team met his expectations, Hamilton gave a positive reply. He told French publication RTBF Actus: "It's not at all what I expected, it 's more intense in so many areas. I didn't expect that. I didn't think the team at the factory would be so impressive. I was expecting energy, but this... it's even more intense than I imagined. "There's a huge sense of pride within this team. During a shoot last week, I had a big smile on my face the whole time. I love being in red! I look at the badge and I think, 'Wow!' It's Ferrari, I can't believe it. I still have to pinch myself, I think, 'I'm driving for Ferrari.' It's phenomenal." Following the qualifying session in Hungary, where he was knocked out in Q2, Hamilton appeared low before the media and went on to state that he was "useless" and that Ferrari should look for another driver. When Vasseur was asked if he was going to motivate the Briton, he said: "I don't need to motivate him. Honestly, he's frustrated, but not demotivated. You know, it's a completely different story. I can perfectly understand the situation. Sometimes you are making comments on what the driver is saying in the car, but if you put the microphone on some other sportsmen in football and so, I'm not sure that it would be much better. "They are in the performance, and sometimes they are making comments, even when they jump out of the car. I can understand the frustration, but we are all frustrated. And sometimes if you ask me, I can't say this, I will go to the stewards [for swearing]! "But sometimes just after the race or just after the quali [qualifying], you are very disappointed and the first reaction is harsh. But we all know that we are pushing in the same direction."
Newsweek
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Under Fire For Calling Himself 'Useless' As Guenther Steiner Speaks Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Haas Formula One team principal Guenther Steiner has called out Lewis Hamilton for calling himself "useless" after the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session. Hamilton was knocked out of Q2, which prompted him to speak in a dejected state. The race weekend at the Hungaroring was an event for Ferrari to forget after Hamilton secured the 12th position in qualifying. Unfortunately, he didn't recover places during the race, eventually finishing in P12. His teammate Charles Leclerc secured a remarkable pole position by outperforming the dominant McLarens, but a suspected chassis problem on his SF-25 F1 car mid-race led him to finish in P4. What made headlines, though, was Hamilton's statement after qualifying. Speaking to the media, the seven-time world champion said: "It's just me every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless. Team has no problem, you've seen the car's on pole. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari walks in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari walks in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 3, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary."They probably need to change driver." Steiner, who is known for his candid opinions, said he didn't like Hamilton's "attitude of giving up." He said on The Red Flags Podcast: "How can you come out as being seven-time World Champion saying, I'm useless? That was, it's not his performance. I do not care about that. I'm not going into his performance. He's struggling. At some stage in our life, we all struggle a little bit. "I still struggle, so I always struggle, but coming out and saying, 'oh, I'm useless'. That's the wrong attitude. And that is for me. I don't like the attitude of giving up, you know, or it's an attitude that people should feel sorry for you." He added: "For me, it's like if I'm seven times World Champion, I've got enough confidence that I know that I'm not useless. I just need to work harder and going back to get my mojo back. It's one of these things. "A few weeks ago, [Hamilton was] sitting down the engineers telling them what to do and now you're coming back and saying, 'I'm useless'. "It's just focus on what you're good at, which is driving a race car, because he's good. He's a seven-time World Champion. "That's the wrong attitude. Just feeling sorry for yourself." Considering Hamilton's racing prowess, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali backed him for an eighth championship title with Ferrari following the setback faced in Hungary. He said: "Lewis is a jewel, an incredible athlete. So no matter if it is a difficult moment, he will react, and I am pretty sure he will show the reason why he is here. "He wants to achieve his 8th title, and he will triumph again. So stay with Lewis and he will do a great race, and be very, very strong after the summer season."
