Vettel warns Hamilton, language key to Ferrari success
A challenging first season
Lewis Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari has been far from the smooth transition many expected. After spending his entire career at British based teams, including more than a decade at Mercedes, the move to Italy has marked one of the most difficult stretches of his racing life.
Results on track have fluctuated, and off the track Ferrari leaders have already urged Hamilton to keep public comments to a minimum.
Hamilton arrived in 2024 with the intention of helping end Ferrari’s long championship drought, yet his initial months have instead highlighted how demanding the environment can be for drivers who come from outside the team’s cultural orbit.
Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello remain deeply shaped by Italian tradition, something even multiple world champions have struggled to adapt to.
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Vettel reflects on his own journey
Sebastian Vettel, who joined Ferrari in 2015 after winning four world titles with Red Bull, said on Formula One’s Beyond the Grid podcast that he now realises he misjudged how thoroughly a driver must integrate to truly feel at home inside the team.
“The heart and culture of the team is Italian, the language is English,” Vettel said, explaining that communication goes beyond technical briefings.
He noted that many factory staff speak limited English, which can create distance even when working toward the same goals. “If you don’t speak a language very well, you get along, but do you really get the people, do you get the culture?”
Vettel admitted he considered himself prepared when he arrived at Maranello, only to learn years later that he had underestimated how much language shapes trust and belonging.
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He took Italian lessons, but believes he should have spent more time in Italy itself to understand the daily rhythm of the team.
The importance of language and belonging
Ferrari has always been unique among Formula One teams. While English is the standard engineering language, interpersonal communication, informal meetings, factory discussions, and media moments often happen in Italian.
Past drivers, including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Räikkönen, each went through their own adaptation period, with Schumacher famously immersing himself in the culture until he became almost a local.
Vettel said he gave Hamilton direct advice when the Ferrari move was announced, urging him to learn Italian “really, really well.” Hamilton has begun lessons and has spoken publicly about the process, but Vettel believes fluency is one step among many required to bridge cultural divides.
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Pressure and tension inside the team
Hamilton’s challenges have extended beyond language. At the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he qualified last and expressed frustration with Ferrari’s strategy over the radio, asking how he had ended up back in tenth place during the race. Team principal Fred Vasseur later encouraged Hamilton to calm down, describing the weekend as emotional but fixable.
Reports in Italian and British media outlets suggest Ferrari leadership has also reminded Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc to avoid escalating internal matters in the press.
Earlier this season, Hamilton carried out a detailed review of Ferrari’s processes and shared his findings with senior management. Although he intended it as constructive, some staff reportedly viewed it as premature for a newcomer.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann has since asked both drivers to “talk less,” reinforcing how sensitive communication can be within the organisation.
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A long contract, but limited time
Hamilton is signed through 2027, giving him several seasons to adapt. Yet Formula One is a results oriented business, and Ferrari’s expectations remain high.
Vettel’s warning is not criticism, but an attempt to help a fellow champion avoid repeating mistakes that former drivers now see more clearly in hindsight.
Ferrari remains one of the most demanding and emotionally intense teams in the sport. Success there has always depended on more than speed, requiring patience, cultural awareness, and genuine connection with the people who build and run the cars. How quickly Hamilton can develop that connection may define the next chapter of his career.
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