Ferrari unconcerned by Hamilton’s “not fast anymore” remarks

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has zero issues about Lewis Hamilton’s velocity, regardless of the troublesome finish to the Formulation 1 season he’s having with Mercedes.

Hamilton has struggled to extract as a lot tempo out of the W15 automotive persistently this yr as his team-mate George Russell.

The seven-time champion additionally had a torrid time on the Qatar Grand Prix as he got here residence twelfth after a bounce begin, a puncture and a drive-through penalty for dashing within the pitlane.

Hamilton accepts that issues are usually not working, for causes that he can’t clarify, as he admitted that the efficiency is solely not there for the time being.

On Friday in Qatar, he raised eyebrows when he mentioned: “I am undoubtedly not quick anymore.”

However whereas issues are usually not clicking with Mercedes proper now, his future employer Ferrari doesn’t see something to be alarmed about.

And its group boss Vasseur, who has identified Hamilton for years, believes performances like his cost from tenth on the grid to complete second in Las Vegas spotlight simply how good he stays.

Requested if he was anxious about Hamilton’s remarks, Vasseur mentioned: “Under no circumstances. Take a look on the 50 laps that he did in Vegas.

“Beginning P10, ending on the gearbox of Russell, I am not anxious in any respect.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos

Mercedes send-off

Hamilton is heading into his ultimate race weekend with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi, which is bound to be an emotional send-off.

Whereas outcomes could also be arduous to get for the time being, group boss Toto Wolff says that the present challenges won’t cloud the reminiscences of the success their title-winning partnership produced since they got here collectively in 2013.

Talking about coping with the circumstances of this season, understanding Hamilton was leaving, Wolff mentioned: “To be sincere, I believe we have all of us collectively, Lewis and the group, we have executed a great job of that.

“When he took the choice at first of the season to go, we knew it was going to be a bumpy yr forward, and it’s totally regular.

“He is aware of he’s going to go someplace else. We all know our future lies with Kimi [Antonelli] after which to undergo the ups and downs, and nonetheless hold it collectively between us, I believe that’s one thing now we have achieved.

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“Now you see these very unhealthy races. Clearly, he wears his coronary heart on the sleeve. You categorical your feelings and that is completely allowed. It is okay.

“However nothing goes to remove 12 unimaginable years with eight constructors’ and 6 drivers’ championships. And that’s what can be within the reminiscence.

“After subsequent Sunday, we will look again at this nice time frame fairly than a season of races that have been notably unhealthy. We’ll stick with the nice reminiscences.”

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