Vasseur 'Pleased' with Hamilton's Pace Amidst Ferrari's Late-Season Surge

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, has expressed satisfaction with Lewis Hamilton's recent pace, viewing it as integral to the team's ongoing resurgence. Despite a 10-second penalty in Mexico that dropped Hamilton to eighth, Vasseur sees positives in his performance and the competitive spirit within the team.

Why it matters:

• Ferrari is showing strong late-season form, and Hamilton's consistent pace is crucial for their competitive push.
• Vasseur's comments highlight the internal belief in Hamilton's performance, even when race results are hampered by penalties.
• The team's 'comeback' narrative is reinforced by the perceived strong individual performances of its drivers.

The Details:

• Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty in Mexico for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which pushed him to eighth place.
• This incident followed his best qualifying result of the season, securing third position on Saturday.
• Vasseur referenced a similar incident in Monaco where Hamilton also incurred a grid penalty for impeding Max Verstappen.
• Despite the penalty, Vasseur was encouraged by Hamilton's overall pace, noting that he jumped into the car for FP2 and immediately showed competitive times, placing between Norris and Russell.
• Vasseur also criticized the severity of Hamilton's 10-second penalty in Mexico, calling it 'not very well managed' given other incidents like Max Verstappen cutting a chicane.

Between the lines:

• Vasseur's defense of Hamilton's penalty suggests a united front within Ferrari and a potential frustration with race management decisions.
• The emphasis on Hamilton's raw pace, despite the penalty, indicates that Ferrari is focusing on underlying performance rather than just immediate results.
• The 'emulation' and competitive environment Vasseur mentioned suggest a healthy internal rivalry that is driving both drivers to perform better, ultimately benefiting the team.

What's next:

• With four rounds remaining in the current season, the focus shifts to whether Hamilton can break his podium-free streak.
• Ferrari will continue to refine its strategies and performance, hoping to capitalize on their improved pace in the final races.
• The team's ability to convert strong qualifying performances and raw pace into clean, penalty-free race finishes will be key to their late-season success and momentum building for the next championship.