The head of the Ferrari team, Fred Vasseur, anticipates a great chance with Hamilton in 2025.
File: In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, drivers Lewis Hamilton of the United Kingdom and Charles Leclerc of Monaco of Ferrari arrive to address the media prior to the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Ferrari will have a big chance with Lewis Hamilton joining the team next year, but signing the seven-time Formula One champion required some awkward phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur revealed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
After driving for Mercedes since 2013, Hamilton will be returning to Ferrari for the upcoming season. After Carlos Sainz Jr. departs the Italian squad, he will be partnered with Charles Leclerc.
File: Friday, May 5, 2023, at the Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, marks the start of practice for the Formula One Miami Grand Prix. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur is seen entering the garage.
Ferrari will have a big chance with Lewis Hamilton joining the team next year, but signing the seven-time Formula One champion required some awkward phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur revealed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
File: On Thursday, March 2, 2023, British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton arrives at Sakhir, Bahrain’s Bahrain International Circuit.
Ferrari will have a big chance with Lewis Hamilton joining the team next year, but signing the seven-time Formula One champion required some awkward phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur revealed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
Italy’s MARANELLO (AP) Although signing the seven-time Formula One champion required some awkward phone calls, Lewis Hamilton’s entry would provide Ferrari with “a big opportunity” in 2019, team principal Fred Vasseur said on Tuesday.
After driving for Mercedes since 2013, Hamilton will be joining Ferrari for the upcoming season. After Carlos Sainz Jr. departs the Italian squad, he will be partnered with Charles Leclerc.
Vasseur, who has known Hamilton since they collaborated on his rise through the junior ranks in the middle of the 2000s before the British driver made his Formula One debut with McLaren in 2007, stated, It’s a great chance for the team, for sure.
According to him, that relationship made it more likely that the agreement was reached naturally.
Vasseur noted that the surprise signing of Hamilton meant having some tough talks with Sainz and his longtime buddy, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
It was not the simplest call I have ever made, as you may imagine (with Sainz). The one with Toto was among the hardest, according to Vasseur.
I’m positive that Sainz is an extremely skilled driver and that he is aware of the lengthy season we have ahead of us.
As you may imagine, we had a lengthy conversation, but I will be standing by Carlos’ side. He is totally dedicated.
After his announcement on February 1st, Hamilton stated a few days later that he saw driving in Ferrari red as an opportunity to fulfill another childhood goal.
We contacted each other, of course, when everything was final and announced. We’ve had chats with Lewis, he stated. Lewis is a fantastic champion with a ton of success and experience.
Having a new colleague is always exciting because it teaches you new techniques for driving and working, especially when that person is a seven-time world champion.
Ferrari debuted its 2024 model on Tuesday. According to the team, the car was created with a strong focus on drivability, making it easier for drivers Leclerc and Sainz to handle and more versatile in a variety of situations than the occasionally erratic 2023 model.
Max Verstappen easily won the drivers’ championship last year, with Red Bull winning all but one of the races.
Despite having a difficult season overall, Ferrari was the only other team to win a race when Sainz took home the Singapore Grand Prix.
