Lewis Hamilton has been ‘held back’ at Ferrari by one thing under pressure team boss Fred Vasseur has done

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Fred Vasseur was key to Ferrari convincing Lewis Hamilton to leave Mercedes for the 2025 F1 season, but the Briton’s woe has helped to spark questions about his future.

The Frenchman may have come out firing at the Canadian Grand Prix, as Vasseur reacted to reports in Italy that Ferrari are considering his position as the team principal. He took over in Maranello back in December 2022, but Ferrari’s 2025 title bids have not arrived as expected.

Ferrari falling from 14 points behind McLaren for the 2024 constructors’ title to trailing their rivals from Woking by 191 points after the first 10 of 24 rounds in the 2025 season has made Vasseur a man under serious pressure. Hamilton struggling for form only adds to his burden.

Charles Leclerc and Hamilton have scored just 104 and 79 points so far this term to rank fifth and sixth in the F1 drivers’ standings. So, the Scuderia’s management wants answers, and it sees the Canadian GP, Austrian GP and British GP as a key run for Vasseur’s future at Ferrari.

Fred Vasseur has ‘held Lewis Hamilton back’ from giving up on the 2025 F1 season

But while Vasseur is now facing a lot of pressure in Maranello, the 57-year-old has been key to controlling a potentially massive problem with Hamilton. That is according to AutoRacer, which reports the 40-year-old has considered throwing in the towel on the 2025 F1 season.

Hamilton has urged Ferrari to focus on F1’s 2026 regulations, as the Briton has doubts about their 2025 car. The seven-time champion has also studied distancing himself from the SF-25 as Hamilton weighs up how to react to the technical limitations that he has faced at Ferrari.

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But Vasseur reiterating several times that the SF-25’s potential is real, while not yet proven on the track, ‘held Hamilton back’ from giving up on 2025. The Frenchman also still has the Briton’s support, yet Hamilton is focusing on the 2026 F1 regulations to return to form now.

Lewis Hamilton’s support could prove key amid Fred Vasseur’s uncertain Ferrari future

Having Hamilton’s support could prove key as Vasseur faces scrutiny from Ferrari’s hierarchy as the Scuderia consider potential replacements. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is Ferrari chairman John Elkann’s old obsession, but an internal successor might also be found.

But Ferrari’s hierarchy will also be mindful that Hamilton almost gave up on 2025 after only 10 rounds. The Stevenage-born star has struggled to adapt to the SF-25, and it is even said that Hamilton is trying to make Ferrari change their methods after failing to adjust to them.

If the Scuderia cannot change enough to appease the Briton, Vasseur could have a massive problem on his hands with Ferrari expected to have a worse 2026 F1 rules engine than Audi and Mercedes. Audi will join the F1 grid for the first time in 2026 when it takes over Sauber.