A word of caution from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur: “It all comes down to the details”

The whole paddock celebrated with Lewis Hamilton as he crossed the finish line first at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The seven-time champion won’t forget the 106th Grand Prix victory of his career in a hurry; after all, it was his first Grand Prix triumph in red, and it was a long time coming. Last year, the former serial winner had to endure a difficult first season with the world’s oldest Grand Prix team; he didn’t even make it onto the Grand Prix podium. His most recent triumph before the victory in Barcelona came whilst still driving for Mercedes in Belgium in 2024.

Team principal Fred Vasseur was beaming as brightly as the Spanish sun, but also warned against setting expectations too high. Responding to questions that immediately centred on Hamilton’s World Championship chances, he explained: “Nothing has changed since last week’s race in Monaco. The result is different, but as far as the efforts of the lads in the pits, in Maranello, and those of Lewis and Charles Leclerc are concerned – nothing has changed.”

Fred Vasseur: “The situation hasn’t fundamentally changed”

“We need to keep our cool; it’s not as though the race in Barcelona was magical and the Monaco Grand Prix wasn’t, but I think we’re on the right track and improving steadily,” said the Frenchman, giving himself and his team a positive assessment. He knows what makes for success: “We know each other a bit better now; with every passing day we get to know each other better, and it all comes down to the details. Small things can make a big difference.”

“We saw during the race that having a clear run was very important. As soon as you were behind an opponent, the problems began,” Vasseur went on to explain. And he emphasised: “I see this as a really positive result; it’s a good reward for everyone – Lewis, the team in Maranello and the lads at the track – but the situation hasn’t fundamentally changed. The good thing is that we’re on the right track; we had a strong weekend in Canada, and then in Monaco too. And here in Barcelona, the pace was good right from the start.”

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