Fred Vasseur was left stunned by how the Italian fans treated Lewis Hamilton during the Italian Grand Prix.
The Ferraris finished in fourth and sixth at Monza after an under-the-radar performance for the Scuderia.
Hamilton went into the race with a five-place grid penalty after a yellow flag infringement at the Dutch Grand Prix, meaning he started his maiden race for Ferrari at Monza in 10th.
While the seven-time champion could not get on the podium, he put in a good performance, with Vasseur crediting the support Hamilton received from the Tifosi. He said: “I think the energy that he received from the Tifosi Wednesday, Thursday in [Milan] was something very special for him,
Lewis Hamilton was in much higher spirits at Monza
|REUTERS
"I don't know if it was expected from him or I don't know what he was expecting from this, but it was something mega and I think this gave him an extra boost all over the weekend.
“Even tonight when he went to the fans to say hello and the Tifosi was something mega. I don't know if you underestimate this or not, that we didn't discuss too much about this, but I think, and even for me, each time that I'm going there I'm surprised."
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Ferrari started the weekend with high hopes, as Hamilton topped Free Practice 1, with his team-mate Charles Leclerc second in three practice sessions. Both were in the running for the front row until the final runs of qualifying, where they faltered.
Vasseur continued: “We didn't do the race of our life, we were expecting to be at least on the podium, we are not, but they are still there, they are still enthusiastic, still pushing and it's why I'm a bit disappointed that we were not able to give them a podium this weekend.
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Fred Vasseur believes the fans helped Lewis Hamilton have a good weekend in Italy
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“But I'm really convinced that it's part of the energy into the team and the positive energy around Lewis this weekend.”
The penalty hanging over from Zandvoort ruined Hamilton’s weekend, but Vasseur was focusing on the positives after the race.
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“We had to serve the penalty, and we knew from the beginning of the weekend that with plus five it's not an easy one, but [Hamilton] came back behind Russell and the pace was there from the first lap of FP1 to the last lap of the race,” Vasseur explained.
“Honestly, I think this started in Zandvoort last week. It's difficult to say because the outcome of the weekend was not positive for him, but at the end of the day, the pace was better from the beginning, compared to Charles, the mood was better.
Lewis Hamilton came home sixth in Monza
|REUTERS
“During the race, he was fighting with Russell until Lap 30, that means that he was back in a better position.”
Ferrari will now have a few weeks to see if they can find the performance that will get them back on the podium for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.