Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says convincing seven-time world champion to affix was ‘not tough’ | F1 Information

Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur says it was “not tough in any respect” to persuade Lewis Hamilton to affix the staff from 2025 and he has no considerations in regards to the staff’s tough type. qualifying for the seven-time champion throughout his last season at Mercedes.

Vasseur additionally stated the prospect of a aggressive duel between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would in the end be good for the staff as they intention for a return to world title glory.

The Frenchman was talking at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters through the conventional Christmas lunch with the media, simply weeks earlier than Hamilton formally joined the staff in a switch first revealed in February.

Though the timing of the blockbuster transfer in the end got here out of nowhere, Vasseur – Hamilton’s former staff boss within the junior classes within the mid-2000s – admitted it was in the end straightforward to make. signal the 39-year-old.

“In 2023 we received extra races than Mercedes, and the beginning of the season was good too, so it wasn’t too tough to persuade him that Ferrari can be an excellent mission,” Vasseur stated.

“And I feel he had in thoughts the plan to drive for Ferrari for not less than 22 years, or 23 years, as a result of we had been speaking about it in 2004.

“That meant it wasn’t too tough.

“I feel generally it is also a matter of coincidence, or all of the planets aligning, that he is in the marketplace and Ferrari has a seat obtainable, and so forth.

“However the contact was straightforward. We began speaking a yr in the past and it wasn’t tough in any respect to persuade him.”

Vasseur ‘by no means, ever, ever fearful’ by Hamilton’s type

Whereas the Briton will arrive on the Italian nationwide staff as essentially the most profitable driver in F1 historical past, Hamilton – who turns 40 on January 7 – noticed his last yr at Mercedes marred by unusually poor type in {qualifications}.

Hamilton even steered on the penultimate spherical of the season in Qatar that he was “positively no quicker” after qualifying seventh for the Dash whereas teammate George Russell occupied the entrance row.

However when requested what he considered these feedback, Vasseur pointed to Hamilton’s development from sixteenth on the grid to fourth on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as proof of his new driver’s constant tempo. .

“Ask Russell that query on Sunday,” Vasseur stated in reference to his teammate’s cross of Hamilton on the ultimate lap of the season.

“I feel he had a tough time in qualifying, however I additionally do not suppose that the Abu Dhabi qualifying, for instance, was linked to Lewis’ efficiency.

“He had excellent races in Vegas and Abu Dhabi. And I used to be by no means – actually, by no means, ever, ever – fearful about that scenario. That scenario, and I am not criticizing Lewis or Mercedes, however that scenario is just not straightforward to handle. And I can perceive that if it would not go very nicely, you’ll be able to undergo on this relationship.

“He wasn’t very nicely mentally, however he was clear in Brazil about that, for instance. However he additionally did very nicely within the final two occasions, so I am not fearful in any respect.”

“Leclerc and Hamilton have immense mutual respect”

Since taking cost of Ferrari at first of 2023, Vasseur has clearly applied an strategy during which neither Leclerc nor his teammate Carlos Sainz had been priorities.

The Frenchman insists he’ll look to keep up the identical stability together with his new driver duo, insisting the aggressive battle between Leclerc and Sainz has been a significant factor within the staff’s total progress.

In an unique interview with Sky Sports activities InformationVasseur stated: “I desire to battle for one-two somewhat than 19-20, that’s clear!

“I feel that is additionally a part of the efficiency. Clearly, the final two years I allow them to race on monitor and it was for the good thing about the staff as a result of the emulation that we created like that made a part of the restoration once we had tough occasions.”

“They [Leclerc and Sainz] there was immense respect between them. »

Hamilton and Leclerc have shared a respectful relationship for the reason that Monegasque joined the grid in 2018, and Vasseur is assured that may proceed at Ferrari.

He added: “Charles-Lewis, that does not notably fear me. They’ve nice mutual respect, they know one another, they have been speaking about it for months now.”

When will Hamilton drive a Ferrari for the primary time?

Though Hamilton won’t drive the Ferrari 2025 challenger till pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 26-28, there’s loads of curiosity when the Briton takes to the monitor in an older mannequin of the automotive.

Vasseur stated unpredictable winter climate at Ferrari’s personal Fiorano circuit means he can not present a precise date, however what he expects to be an “emotional” first outing in crimson for Hamilton can have happen sooner or later in January.

“Most likely sure however we rely on the climate, it’s not straightforward in January,” Vasseur stated.

“It is true that it is fairly emotional as a result of I feel he is had this second in his thoughts for in all probability 20 years. Which means it will likely be emotional – however he must be emotional for one spherical after which be centered!

Vasseur stated Ferrari didn’t plan to carry any particular media occasions to introduce Hamilton as a Ferrari driver, with the staff boss contemplating the official launch of the F1 season on February 18 and Ferrari’s personal launch a day later can be sufficient.

“We can have the primary days of testing with TPC [Testing Of Previous Cars] and Pirelli then the launch of the championship first [at The O2] the 18th [of February]then the automotive launch on the nineteenth after which we’ll go straight to Bahrain and it will be a troublesome stretch all the way in which to Melbourne.

“However it’s true that it’s a brief preparation as a result of now we have about 4 weeks on the manufacturing unit earlier than the primary occasion, however that’s how it’s.”

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