Hamilton pays tribute to Vasseur after Monaco podium lifts him to second in championship
A Turnaround Built on Trust
Lewis Hamilton has spoken glowingly of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur following another podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix â a result that has elevated the seven-time world champion to second in the 2026 drivers' standings.
Hamilton failed to reach the podium in a single race throughout his debut season at Ferrari in 2025. That difficult chapter now looks like a distant memory. Three podiums in the first six races of 2026, including back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Canadian and Monaco GPs, paint a picture of a driver rediscovering his rhythm within a team finally aligned to his needs. He trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 66 points, with Antonelli having extended his lead with a dominant fifth consecutive victory on the streets of Monte Carlo.
Hamilton's Tribute to Vasseur
Speaking in Sunday's post-race press conference at Monaco, Hamilton was candid about the role Vasseur played in his revival â and about how difficult 2025 truly was for both of them.
"I mean, a first win couldn't be closer, but it's still 66 points," Hamilton said. "I can't believe that I'm second in the championship and I'm really happy and thankful for that. I couldn't have done that without this team, without the reliability that we have, and also with Fred. Fred has been awesome in supporting me."
The relationship between Hamilton and Vasseur stretches back to the junior categories, and was central to the Briton's decision to leave Mercedes for Maranello. But the partnership was tested severely during a miserable 2025 campaign, with Vasseur facing persistent questions about his headline signing. Hamilton revealed he was effectively petitioning his team principal for changes throughout the season. Vasseur, who returned to the Monaco paddock on race day after a medical absence on Saturday, ultimately gave those requests the green light.
"Last year was really tough for both of us and I was begging him for certain changes, and he pulled through and he did those, and now I'm seeing the fruits of that and I'm able to finally deliver for them," Hamilton added.
Engineering Overhaul Behind the Revival
The structural changes at Ferrari ahead of 2026 were significant. Hamilton was assigned a new race engineer, Carlo Santi, replacing the long-serving Riccardo Adami. The team also recruited Cedric Grosjean from McLaren. While Santi was initially considered an interim appointment ahead of Grosjean taking over, Hamilton has reportedly expressed a desire to keep his current engineering structure in place.
Vasseur, for his part, has pointed to Hamilton's direct input into the design of the SF-26 as a critical factor in the turnaround. Following the 2025 season, Hamilton conducted a thorough audit of Ferrari's operations â both on and off the track â and submitted detailed written feedback to the team.
Eyes on Antonelli
With at least 16 races still to go, Hamilton is clear-eyed about the scale of the task ahead â but equally clear that he believes it is achievable.
"I think it's still very early days in the season, so we just have to keep chasing. It's actually easier to chase than it is to defend, I would say, in life. And so, whilst these guys are very quick and they're an amazing team, we're going to keep pushing, keep chasing, and I have no doubt at some stage we're going to get there."
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.