Fred Vasseur on Ferrari's Failed Gamble with Lewis Hamilton at Italian GP

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has detailed the team's strategic gamble with Lewis Hamilton at the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, which ultimately failed to help him pass George Russell. Hamilton finished sixth after starting 10th due to a grid penalty.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's bold strategic call on tire management didn't pay off, leaving Hamilton stuck behind his former Mercedes teammate George Russell despite his strong pace.

The big picture:

Hamilton, who started P10 due to a five-place grid penalty, made rapid progress during his opening stint. Ferrari opted to extend his first stint, hoping to gain a tire advantage in the later stages of the race. However, unexpectedly low tire degradation across the grid nullified this strategy.

The details:

• Hamilton pitted on lap 38, significantly later than Russell, who stopped much earlier.
• Vasseur admitted the bet to extend the stint "didn't work" due to the surprisingly low tire degradation.
• He reflected that in hindsight, pitting Hamilton earlier might have been an option, but at the time, it was seen as the "best way to try something different."
• Vasseur also touched on car setup, noting only marginal performance differences (a couple of hundredths of a second) between various downforce options, suggesting this wasn't the root of the issue.

Between the lines:

Despite the challenging race outcome, Hamilton displayed a noticeably more positive demeanor this weekend. Vasseur attributed this improved mood, which he noted began in Zandvoort, to the immense support and "extra boost" Hamilton received from the tifosi in Monza, which was "something very special for him."

What's next:

Ferrari will conduct a thorough debrief to analyze all aspects of the weekend. Vasseur acknowledges there is always "room for improvement" and that even minute details can make a significant difference in F1.