Ferrari unconcerned by Hamilton’s “not fast anymore” remarks

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has zero concerns about Lewis Hamilton’s speed, despite the difficult end to the Formula 1 season he is having with Mercedes.

Hamilton has struggled to extract as much pace out of the W15 car consistently this year as his team-mate George Russell.

The seven-time champion also had a torrid time at the Qatar Grand Prix as he came home 12th after a jump start, a puncture and a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

Hamilton accepts that things are not working, for reasons that he cannot explain, as he admitted that the performance is simply not there at the moment.

On Friday in Qatar, he raised eyebrows when he said: “I’m definitely not fast anymore.”

But while things are not clicking with Mercedes right now, his future employer Ferrari does not see anything to be alarmed about.

And its team boss Vasseur, who has known Hamilton for years, believes performances like his charge from 10th on the grid to finish second in Las Vegas highlight just how good he remains.

Asked if he was worried about Hamilton’s remarks, Vasseur said: “Not at all. Have a look at the 50 laps that he did in Vegas.

“Starting P10, finishing on the gearbox of Russell, I’m not worried at all.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W15

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Mercedes send-off

Hamilton is heading into his final race weekend with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi, which is sure to be an emotional send-off.

While results may be hard to get at the moment, team boss Toto Wolff says that the current challenges will not cloud the memories of the success their title-winning partnership produced since they came together in 2013.

Speaking about dealing with the circumstances of this season, knowing Hamilton was leaving, Wolff said: “To be honest, I think we’ve all of us together, Lewis and the team, we’ve done a good job of that.

“When he took the decision at the beginning of the season to go, we knew it was going to be a bumpy year ahead, and it’s very normal.

“He knows he is going to go somewhere else. We know our future lies with Kimi [Antonelli] and then to go through the ups and downs, and still keep it together between us, I think that is something we have achieved.

“Now you see these very bad races. Clearly, he wears his heart on the sleeve. You express your emotions and that’s absolutely allowed. It’s okay.

“But nothing is going to take away 12 incredible years with eight constructors’ and six drivers’ championships. And that is what will be in the memory.

“After next Sunday, we’re going to look back at this great period of time rather than a season of races that were particularly bad. We will stay with the good memories.”

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