Ted Kravitz noticed significant Fred Vasseur gesture on Ferrari pit wall before Lewis Hamilton win

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Ted Kravitz has explained how one fist bump underlined Fred Vasseur’s role in Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari win at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Vasseur oversaw Ferrari’s first victory since the 2024 Mexico City GP on Sunday, with Hamilton reaching the top step of the podium in his 31st race for the team.

Hamilton raced for Vasseur in the junior categories and has repeatedly said that the Frenchman was instrumental in him joining Ferrari in the first place.

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Ted Kravitz: Fred Vasseur showed how well he knows Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton’s race engineer Carlo Santi offered several messages of ‘encouragement’ to his driver as he hunted down the Mercedes duo, and later tried to extend his lead.

Observing the Ferrari pit wall closely, Kravitz suggested that the impetus had come from Vasseur, who utilised his extensive knowledge of Hamilton.

While Hamilton has spoken glowingly about Santi, he has still only worked with the Italian for seven race weekends after changing engineers over the winter.

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“I think that message of encouragement to Hamilton has come from Fred Vasseur,” Kravitz said live on Sky Sports F1 (14/06, 15:15).

“I can see – [I’m] right in front of the Ferrari pit wall – Vasseur leaning over to Carlo Santi, his engineer, giving him a fist bump, just saying, ‘Keep talking to Lewis, keep encouraging, keep telling him that he’s in the window and everything is fine.’ Vasseur knows Hamilton very well.”

‘He continued to believe’ – Lewis Hamilton’s message to Fred Vasseur after Barcelona win

As he revealed after the Monaco GP, Hamilton ‘begged’ Vasseur for certain changes inside and outside the car. The Frenchman was receptive, enabling the transformation of his superstar signing.

Elaborating in Sunday’s post-race press conference, Hamilton hinted that Vasseur had to overcome some cultural resistance to implement those changes.

Even at Hamilton’s lowest points during the 2025 season, Vasseur never considered seeking a replacement.

“I wouldn’t be in this team without Fred,” he said. “Fred is the one that made it happen, which I’m incredibly grateful to him for. I think last year was really, really tough for him to deal with.

“Me coming was a big shock to the system because I am very, very vocal. If I see something that I don’t think is right, or I push very, very hard, that’s at the core of who I am and I’m relentless with it.

“And I think it’s not easy to be on the receiving end of that when you’re also juggling a whole organisation and a culture that is set in a certain way.

“He continued to believe, continued to be a good friend, continued to be a great team-mate and an ally and really supportive.”