Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur is refusing to get drawn into any championship talk involving Lewis Hamilton, despite the seven-time world champion significantly reducing the gap to Kimi Antonelli in the drivers’ standings.
The Briton arrives on the back of his first victory since joining Ferrari, a landmark moment in his career that has significantly boosted his position in the drivers’ standings. Hamilton now sits just 41 points behind Antonelli, having dramatically reduced the deficit compared to the gap that separated the two heading into the Barcelona weekend.
Speaking to GPBlog among other media and asked whether Ferrari would be prepared to fully back Hamilton should he find himself in contention for an eighth world title later this season, Vasseur was reluctant to entertain the discussion.
The Frenchman pointed out how quickly narratives can change in Formula 1, noting that only a couple of weeks ago the team was being written off, whereas now the conversation has shifted towards championship ambitions. Instead, he insisted Ferrari’s approach remains unchanged, with the focus firmly on maximising performance race by race rather than getting carried away by the title picture.
“I’m not sure that I want to reply to this kind of question. I have probably some comments that two weeks ago that everything was a disaster, and now we are speaking about the championship. This is the worst approach that I could have. We approached to Australia exactly the same approach that we had in Barcelona, and not to think about the championship.”
Wolff issues serious warning over Hamilton title bid: ‘If he smells blood, he goes’
Vasseur may be reluctant to discuss Hamilton’s championship prospects, but Wolff has taken a very different view. The Mercedes team principal admitted he would rather not find himself up against the seven-time world champion in a title battle, pointing to Hamilton’s proven ability to build unstoppable momentum once he senses an opportunity. Drawing on their years together at Mercedes, Wolff suggested that few drivers are as dangerous as Hamilton when he has a realistic shot at the championship.
“I’d rather not fight with him for a title. I’m not fine with him for a title because I know what he’s capable of. If he smells blood, he goes. I’ve seen it many years where suddenly the train, the Lewis Hamilton train, started to go and then it’s very difficult to stop it.”
The Austrian also made it clear that he sees Hamilton as a genuine contender for a record-breaking eighth world title. With the gap to Antonelli now standing at 41 points and a long season still ahead, Wolff stressed that a single retirement can completely change the complexion of the championship. For that reason, he believes the battle remains wide open, provided Ferrari can continue improving its package while avoiding costly mistakes and reliability issues.
