Ferrari F1 boss tells forlorn Lewis Hamilton to ‘calm down’

Lewis Hamilton has been urged to “settle down” by Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur in response to his feedback on the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton’s disappointing maiden F1 season as a Ferrari driver continued in Las Vegas, resulting in some fairly gloomy post-race remarks.

Hamilton certified final on outright tempo for the primary time in his 17-year F1 profession earlier than recovering to tenth on the street within the race (which later turned eighth after the McLaren drivers had been disqualified).

Talking to Sky Sports activities F1 afterwards, a very downbeat Hamilton stated: “I really feel horrible. It’s been the worst season ever and regardless of how a lot I attempt, it retains getting worse.”

In a separate interview with BBC Radio 5 Dwell, Hamilton insisted there was “nothing constructive” to take from the race.

“I am anticipating it to finish, I am trying ahead to it ending. I am not trying ahead to the following one.”

When requested to make clear whether or not he meant this weekend’s race in Qatar, Hamilton replied: “Subsequent season.”

Hamilton’s newest feedback got here after the 40-year-old Briton described his first yr with Ferrari as a “nightmare” after retiring from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix two weeks in the past.

Vasseur understands Hamilton’s frustration

Ferrari staff principal Vasseur downplayed his star driver’s newest worrying remarks and pointed to the very fact they had been made within the warmth of the second.

“I can perceive the response from Lewis simply after the race,” Vasseur stated.

“However we simply need to settle down, to debate and to be targeted on the following two [races] as a result of the following two, we’ll be again.

“Have in mind additionally that Lewis was there in FP1, FP2 and the tempo was good.

“Now we have to construct up the weekend like this and I believe to begin from P20 isn’t one of the simplest ways.”

The Frenchman added: “The TV pen 5 minutes after the race when you will have had a troublesome race may be very laborious for them. You may completely perceive the adrenaline, the emotion.

“I do not know if regular is the appropriate phrase, however I favor to have drivers being very open on the finish of the race if you did not do the right job, when the automobile was not good, to say ‘I am annoyed’ than somebody going into the TV pen and saying ‘I do know guys, the staff is ideal, the automobile is nice’ blah, blah, blah. On this case, you’ll be upset.

“You may’t blame them in these circumstances and I believe it is fairly regular as a human generally on the radio or simply after the session to be a bit, not upset, however to be a bit within the emotion.

“Now, an important [thing] isn’t what they are saying within the TV pen, it is what they do on the Monday morning with the staff. They attempt to do higher, they attempt to push the staff to do higher and that is extra the job of the drivers than [what they say in] the TV pen.”

Vasseur additionally argued that Hamilton’s performances have improved at current occasions.

“It is true that on the mathematical facet the final couple of weekends had been very troublesome with Brazil DNF, Mexico the penalty,” he stated.

“However total, I believe Mexico, Austin, had been in all probability additionally the very best weekends of Lewis when it comes to pure efficiency.

“However now it is true for the staff additionally, we did not put all the pieces collectively the final two or three weekends.

“That is why on the mathematical facet and on the championship, we took an enormous step down. However when it comes to pure efficiency, I believe it is the place we aren’t in so unhealthy form.”