Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari boss Fred Wasser says convincing seven-time world champion to join ‘won’t be difficult’ | F1 News

Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur says will probably be “under no circumstances troublesome” to persuade Lewis Hamilton to hitch the staff from 2025 and he’s not anxious in regards to the seven-time champion’s placement in his closing season at Mercedes Poor efficiency.

Vasseur additionally stated the prospect of a team-mate showdown between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finally advantages the staff as they chase a return to world championship glory.

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

Whereas the timing of the blockbuster transfer was finally surprising, Vassell, Hamilton’s former staff boss within the junior ranks within the mid-2000s, admits it was a no brainer to get the 39-year-old signed ultimately.

“In 2023 we received extra races than Mercedes and had a great begin to the season, so it wasn’t troublesome to persuade him that Ferrari could be a great mission,” Vasseur stated.

“I believe his plan to drive for Ferrari has been brewing in his thoughts for at the very least 22, perhaps 23 years as a result of we mentioned it in 2004.

“Which means it’s not too troublesome.

“I believe generally it is also a matter of coincidence, or all of the planets aligning, he is available on the market and there is area at Ferrari, and so forth.

“But it surely was straightforward to make contact. We began discussing it a 12 months in the past and it was not troublesome in any respect to persuade him.”

Vasseur ‘by no means, by no means, by no means anxious’ about Hamilton’s efficiency

Whereas the Briton will enter the Italian nationwide staff as probably the most profitable driver in F1 historical past, Hamilton – who turns 40 on January 7 – noticed his closing 12 months at Mercedes marred by an unusually poor qualifying session. efficiency is affected.

Hamilton even stated on the penultimate spherical of the season in Qatar that he was “undoubtedly not quick anymore” after ending seventh in dash qualifying with teammate George Russell on the entrance row.

However when requested what he considered the feedback, Vasseur pointed to Hamilton’s begin from sixteenth on the grid to fourth on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, proving his new driver’s tempo was undiminished.

“Ask Russell that query on Sunday,” Vasseur stated of Hamilton passing his teammate on the ultimate lap of the season.

“I believe he had a troublesome time in qualifying, however I do not suppose qualifying in Abu Dhabi had something to do with Lewis’ efficiency both.

“He raced very effectively in Vegas and Abu Dhabi. I used to be by no means – actually, by no means, ever – anxious about this case. This example, I am not criticizing Lewis or Mercedes, However I can perceive that this case is not straightforward and if it would not go effectively, you might undergo within the relationship.

“His mentality shouldn’t be excellent, however in Brazil, for instance, he was very conscious of it. However he has additionally carried out effectively in the previous few video games, so I’m not anxious in any respect.”

‘Leclerc and Hamilton respect one another’

Vasseur’s clear strategy since taking cost of Ferrari initially of 2023 has been that neither Leclerc nor team-mate Carlos Sainz is a precedence.

The Frenchman insists he’ll search to keep up the identical stability with the brand new driver pairing and insists the competitors between Leclerc and Sainz is a significant component within the staff’s general progress.

In an unique interview sky sports activities informationVasseur stated: “I choose to play one-two relatively than 19-20, that’s clear!

“I believe that is a part of the efficiency as effectively. Clearly the final two years I’ve had them racing on observe is for the good thing about the staff as a result of the simulation we created is a part of our restoration from troublesome occasions.

“them [Leclerc and Sainz] There’s a whole lot of respect between them.

Hamilton and Leclerc have loved a mutually respectful relationship since becoming a member of the staff in Monaco in 2018, and Vasseur is assured that this relationship will proceed at Ferrari.

He added: “Charles Lewis, I am not notably anxious about that. They respect one another, they know one another and so they’ve been speaking about it for months.”

When did Hamilton first drive a Ferrari?

Whereas Hamilton will not be capable to drive Ferrari’s 2025 challenger till pre-season testing in Bahrain on February 26-28, there’s loads of curiosity in when the Briton will take to the observe within the older automotive.

Vasseur stated the unpredictable winter climate at Ferrari’s personal Fiorano circuit meant he couldn’t present a precise date, however he anticipated Hamilton’s first “thrilling” race in pink to happen someday in January. Held at a time.

“Most likely sure, however we rely on the climate and January shouldn’t be straightforward,” Vasseur stated.

“It is very emotional, certainly, as a result of I believe he is most likely had this second in his thoughts for 20 years. Which means it is going to be emotional – but it surely has to go full circle emotionally earlier than you’ll be able to focus!”

Vasseur stated Ferrari didn’t plan to rearrange any particular media occasions to showcase Hamilton as a Ferrari driver, with the staff boss believing F1’s official season launch on February 18 and Ferrari’s personal launch a day later could be ample.

“We are going to conduct the primary take a look at with TPC [Testing Of Previous Cars] and Pirelli launch one other championship first [at The O2] 18th [of February]after which the automotive is launched on the nineteenth, after which we’ll go straight to Bahrain and as much as Melbourne, which goes to be a troublesome one.

“But it surely’s true that it was a brief preparation course of as a result of we had about 4 weeks within the manufacturing unit earlier than the primary occasion, however that is what occurred.”

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