Vasseur 'pleased' with Hamilton's pace in team's late-season charge

15:42, 31 Oct

Updated: 15:43, 31 Oct

byKada Sarkozi

Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur has highlighted the positives in Lewis Hamilton’s recent performances, particularly in terms of pace, as Ferrari continues to find form.

"I’m quite pleased that he’s completely part of the comeback."

- Frederic Vasseur

Hamilton received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, which dropped him to eighth in Mexico and extended his run without a podium finish.

This followed Hamilton achieving his best qualifying result of the season, finishing third on Saturday.

Ferrari team boss Vasseur said:"I think he did the same in Monaco [that he got up well]. And then he got the penalty," the Frenchman referred to the seven-time world champion getting a grid drop in Monte-Carlo for impeding Max Verstappen.

When asked whether a podium is still possible for Hamilton this season, the team bosses explained he was encouraged by the driver’s performance over the weekend.

Hamilton driving the SF-25 in Mexico - Photo: Race Pictures

He continued: "I’m aware. We were speaking yesterday about hundredth of second or probably a bit less [in qualifying]. And from lap to lap, it was either Charles or Lewis.

"[On Sunday], I think it’s more the incident or the penalty and the fight with Max who cost us five positions than something else. But the pace from Lewis…don’t forget that he didn’t do FP1. He jumped into the car in FP2 and he was between Norris and Russell.

"And I’m quite pleased that he’s completely part of the comeback. The emulation that we have in the team is huge and it’s good for us."

Vasseur critical of Hamilton's 10-second time penalty

The Ferrari team boss was not happy with the severity of Hamilton's penalty in Mexico City.

He commented: "One thing is the penalty, for sure, that we didn't follow the race director's notes. But 10 seconds, I don't remember when someone took 10 seconds. If you have the global picture, saying that Max cut the corner before, he cut the chicane, in the grass, 100 metres. I think it's not very well managed, honestly."

Despite winning Ferrari’s first-ever Sprint, Hamilton remains without a Grand Prix podium this season. With four rounds to go in the current campaign, which race will offer Hamilton his best chance to end his podium-free streak? Read our analysis here!

GPblog's F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the Formula 1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.