Hamilton reserves special thanks for key Ferrari figure: 'I wouldn't be in this team without him'

The seven-time world champion has finally emerged from his difficult spell, returning in 2026 with renewed energy and confidence, and the results were immediate. After securing a podium in China, he followed it up with two more consecutive podium finishes in Montreal and Monaco, before delivering the crowning moment in Barcelona - a victory that firmly confirmed the resurgence of one of the greatest champions in Formula 1 history.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton made it clear that Vasseur played a decisive role in bringing him to the team and remained one of his biggest supporters throughout the most difficult moments of his Ferrari journey. The Briton acknowledged that his arrival brought significant change, describing himself as someone who constantly pushes for improvements and is never afraid to voice concerns when something is not working.

He also recognised the challenges Vasseur faced while leading such a large organisation, managing external pressure and operating within a culture very different from his own. According to Hamilton, balancing those responsibilities while handling constant media scrutiny made the situation even more demanding.

"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 in its own is set in a certain way. But also, he’s French in an Italian culture. It was a lot for him to juggle and I think very, very tough because obviously he would do media as well."

Despite those difficulties, Vasseur never lost faith in him. Hamilton praised the Ferrari team principal for standing by his side, listening to his concerns and supporting the changes he believed were necessary. He stressed that those decisions proved crucial to the progress that followed, expressing his deep gratitude for the trust and backing Vasseur continued to show when results were still hard to come by.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has refused to get carried away by growing championship speculation surrounding Hamilton, despite the seven-time world champion significantly reducing the gap to Kimi Antonelli in the drivers' standings following his victory in Barcelona.

The Frenchman highlighted how quickly the narrative can shift in Formula 1, noting that only a couple of weeks ago the conversation around Ferrari was far more negative. As a result, Vasseur made it clear that he sees little value in focusing on the championship this early in the season, stressing that the team's approach has remained unchanged from the opening round in Australia through to Barcelona. Instead, Ferrari's focus remains firmly on extracting the maximum from each weekend rather than looking ahead to a potential title battle.