Hamilton Calls Vegas and Qatar Horrible as Vasseur Urges Calm

Lewis Hamilton (pictured) had every reason to feel sore after the Las Vegas and Qatar GPs. In Vegas he climbed from last to eighth after both McLarens were disqualified, but it still felt like a gut punch. The seven-time champion arrived at Ferrari expecting a spark, yet he hasn’t stood on the podium once this season and is staring at his first winless campaign. Ferrari chairman John Elkann even told him and Charles Leclerc to “focus on driving and talk less.”

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, isn’t buying into the panic. He brushed aside Hamilton’s “horrendous weekend” comments in Vegas and Qatar and noted that the team is focused on the 2026 car.

Most sportsbooks placed Hamilton’s odds at +4,000 to +10,000 for the race win. These sites don’t set odds based on legacy; they are based on the type of bet, such as outright race wins or podium finishes. They also allow users to bet on the top 6 and qualifying markets with crypto or e-wallets (source: https://esportsinsider.com/us/gambling/texas-sports-betting). When the media pushes the “Is Hamilton done?” narrative, bets typically tend to favor drivers like Max Verstappen.

Verstappen, again, controlled the 56-lap race, finishing comfortably ahead of Lando Norris, with Charles Leclerc 4th and Hamilton 8th after the two McLarens were disqualified. It showed how close the field has become. Ferrari and McLaren were more competitive with Red Bull than they had been in 2024, and Hamilton’s result hinted at potential when everything lines up. Ferrari looked strong in practice, according to Vasseur, and Hamilton’s frustration after his latest performance was simply the emotion of a long night talking.

COTA rewards commitment, and both Austin, Qatar and Vegas underlined how much execution matters for Ferrari. Pit stops, chassis setup, pitstop timing and strategy choices are what separate a podium threat from a car stuck in the pack.

Hamilton’s move from Mercedes has been scrutinized all year. At 40, he still owns the records for most wins and podiums, but he hasn’t claimed a pole or victory this season. Retirement rumors crop up whenever results dry up, though many point to Michael Schumacher’s late-career drought as proof that form can dip without legacy taking a hit.

Hamilton says he is “trying everything, in and out of the car,” and Vasseur stresses that persistence is the only route back. McLaren leads the constructors’ standings by a comfortable margin, while Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull are separated by only a handful of points. A strong run in Qatar could still shake up the order.

A wider backdrop is how deeply betting has threaded itself into motorsport culture. At the Las Vegas GP, plenty of fans were refreshing live odds more than watching the race. That habit stretches far beyond Nevada; grandstands worldwide are filled with people following markets as strategies evolve.

Broadcasts now blend betting lines with lap times, and sponsorships make it obvious how much money flows through the sport. Traditionalists don’t love it, but with Texas’s business-friendly climate, regulation feels like only a matter of time.

Qatar was another disaster weekend for Ferrari, and with Abu Dhabi closing out the season, Ferrari can’t wait for their season to end. They lost 2nd place in the Constructors championship and it now looks like they will finish 4th behind McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull.

Vasseur’s call for calm is about ironing out the basics: clean laps, smooth pit stops and strategies that hold up under pressure. Hamilton knows how to win in Abu Dhabi, and he knows frustration can derail everything if it spirals. The next week will reveal whether Ferrari’s patience pays off or if 2025 becomes another chapter in a long rebuild.