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

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

Hamilton has struggled to extract as a lot tempo out of the W15 automobile constantly 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 dwelling twelfth after a leap begin, a puncture and a drive-through penalty for rushing within the pitlane.

Hamilton accepts that issues are usually not working, for causes that he can not clarify, as he admitted that the efficiency is solely not there in the meanwhile.

On Friday in Qatar, he raised eyebrows when he mentioned: “I’m definitely not fast 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 workforce boss Vasseur, who has recognized 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 fearful about Hamilton’s remarks, Vasseur mentioned: “In no way. Take a look on the 50 laps that he did in Vegas.

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

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photos

Mercedes send-off

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

Whereas outcomes could also be exhausting to get in the meanwhile, workforce boss Toto Wolff says that the present challenges is not going to 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, realizing Hamilton was leaving, Wolff mentioned: “To be trustworthy, I believe we have all of us collectively, Lewis and the workforce, we have carried out 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 extremely regular.

“He is aware of he’s going to go some other place. 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 we’ve achieved.

“Now you see these very dangerous 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 unbelievable years with eight constructors’ and 6 drivers’ championships. And that’s what shall be within the reminiscence.

“After subsequent Sunday, we’ll look again at this nice time frame slightly than a season of races that have been significantly dangerous. We are going to stick with the nice reminiscences.”

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