Frederic Vasseur explained how he was unable to meet all of Lewis Hamilton’s requests on how to fix Ferrari’s problems in Formula 1.
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At the beginning of 2026, the seven-time champion had said that the manager ‘moved mountains’ to try to adjust all the points brought to this championship after a 2025 season far below expectations.
Among the changes was the Maranello team’s brake system, with the seven-time champion wanting to use Carbon Industrie brake discs instead of Brembo, already traditional in the Italian team and a long-time partner.
Since March Hamilton has been using the requested brakes, and Charles Leclerc also adopted the adjustment in Canada and Monaco. Vasseur then explained that it is not possible to meet everything the drivers ask for. “Yes, but we didn’t do everything he wanted,” he told Autosport when asked if he had managed to meet all the demands.
“But suggestions are always welcome. That applies to Lewis, it applies to Charles. It applies to any driver. After each event, they bring a list of things they would like to improve. On that list, some items are out of the question, as it is not possible for the team to carry them out; they quickly understand that, from the team’s perspective, it doesn’t make sense, whether due to budget cap issues or any other reason,” he continued.
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“Sometimes, they don’t have the full view of the situation, but for me, it’s good to understand where they feel we are weak. Sometimes, with their contributions, you understand something you didn’t see before, because you were focused on the team’s view, and you realize that, for the drivers, the perspective is a little different.”
Regarding Lewis’s arrival and all his knowledge about titles with Mercedes, Vasseur pointed out that it was positive. “It’s good to shake the system a bit. If you live in your bubble your whole life with the same people, there comes a time when it’s hard to evolve. That applies to drivers. It also applies to engineers when recruiting professionals from other teams.”
“One of the main qualities of drivers is the ability to contribute to the team’s development. The worst scenario is when you start a discussion and have the feeling that the other is trying to find an excuse; but when there is a good relationship, it’s never about an excuse. I think we have this positive attitude of helping each other and understanding that the other may have a different point of view,” he added.
“I’m not always right. I’m not always wrong; it’s only through collaboration, discussion, and exchange of ideas that we will evolve,” he concluded.
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