Fred Vasseur thinks Lewis Hamilton is now ‘starting from scratch’ at Ferrari this season

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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is insisting that Lewis Hamilton is not under pressure heading into the 2026 season.

2025 was a bitterly disappointing year for the Maranello outfit, going winless and finishing fourth in the standings. Hamilton failed to score a podium for the first time in a calendar year, with the Brit calling the season a ‘nightmare’.

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His inconsistent performances and miserable demeanour after races led to speculation that the 41-year-old could soon leave F1. Ralf Schumacher thinks Hamilton could ‘pull the plug’ on his career if he realises that he cannot beat teammate Charles Leclerc.

But 2026 is an opportunity for Hamilton and Ferrari, as the new technical regulations are believed to favour the former’s driving style. He did not get on with the previous ruleset at all, winning just twice between 2022 and 2025.

Fred Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton is not under pressure in 2026

Martin Brundle is ‘confident’ Hamilton will be better in 2026 after watching pre-season testing. Ferrari brought several technical upgrades and innovations, which have caught the attention of their rivals.

Hamilton was seen ‘visibly experimenting’ with the SF-26, particularly in cornering. Ferrari have been paying more attention to the 41-year-old’s feedback, which seems to have helped him feel more comfortable in the car and within the team.

Vasseur has removed the ‘culture of fear’ at Ferrari after years of underperformance. He has done well to block out the external noise surrounding the team, hence why he insists that Hamilton will not be under pressure in 2026.

When asked the question, he said via Motorsport Italia: “No, I think he’s starting from scratch. It’s a new story, new car, new regulations, new path. He has enough experience not to have to look back.”

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Fred Vasseur finds it ‘impossible’ to set targets for Ferrari in 2026

At this stage, the pecking order heading into the Australian Grand Prix is anyone’s guess. Many believe that Ferrari will be in the mix and could be in with a shout of victory.

But Vasseur is being diplomatic about his team’s chances. The goal is, of course, to win, but he says he cannot set any targets due to the sweeping changes that have come to the sport this season.

“At the moment, it’s impossible,” he added. “No one can have a clear idea of ​​the numbers on the field; there are just too many variables to consider to get to the actual performance.

“Up until the final hours of testing in Bahrain, we saw three or four cars very close, but we don’t know parameters like fuel consumption, which can be worth half a second, or the different power unit configurations.

“We try to get an idea through race simulations, but we’re still far from precise results.”