In the wake of the first five races of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has opened up about the team's ongoing struggles with consistency, particularly in light of the recent switch of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari. While Hamilton has demonstrated flashes of impressive performance, he has yet to fully align with the capabilities of the new SF25 car.

Hamilton, who parted ways with Mercedes at the conclusion of the previous season, has faced a challenging beginning to his career with Ferrari. His debut race in Australia was marked by difficulties in pace, which left fans and analysts questioning whether he could adapt to his new environment. However, the British driver quickly turned things around, clinching pole position at the Shanghai sprint event and exhibiting dominant performance during the subsequent 19-lap race.

The following weekend at Suzuka, however, proved less favorable for Hamilton. He struggled significantly in qualifying, ultimately failing to secure a competitive position on the grid. Additionally, he endured considerable tire degradation throughout the race, which put him at a disadvantage compared to his rivals. Despite these setbacks, Hamilton showed signs of progress in Bahrain, where he displayed a more comfortable command of the SF25, even though he couldn't harness that into a strong qualifying lap, ending up ninth on the grid.

During the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton delivered a noteworthy performance, utilizing a strategic approach to move up the field and finish in fifth place after executing several impressive overtakes. This result has led to renewed optimism among the Scuderia team members.

Vasseur, reflecting on Hamilton's contributions, expressed confidence that the veteran's extensive experience in Formula 1 would be invaluable for the team as they navigate the close competition in the 2025 season. He brings a wealth of experience from 20 years in F1, having raced with different teams, including nearly a decade with McLaren and over a dozen years at Mercedes, Vasseur stated. It's always beneficial to have someone with his background join the team, as they possess the vision needed for improvement.

In a tightly contested field, Vasseur noted that multiple teams are vying for victory, with perhaps five or six competitors emerging as potential front-runners in the near future. He acknowledged that the varying strategies and structures among the teams contribute to the close competition, emphasizing that the key to success lies in understanding what the other teams are doing and adapting accordingly.

When asked about unlocking the potential of the SF25, which has proven challenging to set up and sensitive to varying conditions, Vasseur underscored the critical role of tire management in determining the pecking order. The key is similar for everyoneexcept perhaps McLaren, who seem to have a slight edge, he remarked. Its challenging to achieve the right balance because the tires can be incredibly sensitive. A single mistake can set you back significantly in such a tight grid.

Vasseur elaborated on the necessity for Ferrari to achieve greater consistency in their performance over race weekends. He noted, Our goal is to have solid outings, whether in races or qualifying. If we aspire to compete for wins, consistency must be a priority. He highlighted that their recent performances, such as in China during the Sprint Race and Sprint Qualifying, demonstrated potential, but cautioned against overreacting to success, as the team remained on a precarious edge of performance.

As Vasseur addressed how they could further assist Hamilton in settling into the SF25, he acknowledged that the challenge stemmed from introducing a new car rather than evolving last year's model. It's not about the drivers alone; whether its Lewis, Charles, or Carlos, our focus is on finding the best balance for everyone, he stated. We need to maintain a calm and focused perspective, as were still grappling with the adjustments required for a new chassis.

Vasseur expressed optimism about the teams collaborative spirit, noting that both drivers are working cohesively toward common goals. We have a positive atmosphere within the team, and this will undoubtedly aid us as we strive to improve and make our mark in the remainder of the season, he concluded.