Fred Vasseur: “I think Lewis will be a valuable asset for Ferrari”

Ferrari team director, Fred Vasseur, expects Lewis Hamilton to improve the mindset of the Scuderia, as they continue to work towards securing a first Formula 1 world title since 2008.

Ferrari fought for the Constructors’ Championship this year with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, up to the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. However, Ferrari was 14 points short of the title, beaten by the impeccable victory of Lando Norris and McLaren.

With five Grand Prix victories and 22 podiums, this season has been the most successful for Ferrari since Sebastian Vettel’s attempt to win the drivers’ title in 2018. Under the leadership of Fred Vasseur, who took the helm of the team in January 2023, Ferrari has turned things around. The Frenchman is convinced that the arrival of Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion, will make a difference alongside Charles Leclerc next year.

Lewis Hamilton, who has spent the last 18 seasons racing for McLaren and Mercedes, two teams based in Great Britain, will bring a different culture that, according to Fred Vasseur, will enrich the Scuderia.

Fred Vasseur believes in the collaboration with Lewis Hamilton

Fred Vasseur believes that the Briton’s work ethic will make the difference in margins as fine as those observed this season. “I am convinced that Lewis will come with his own experience, with his 18 years in F1, some titles and all that baggage,” Fred Vasseur said after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. “And this will be a real boost to maintain this mindset, to try to do a little better everywhere.”

« I remember Lewis perfectly in 2005-2006, he was already like that, focused on the smallest details, » he added, referring to his time leading the ASM/ART team in the junior single-seater categories. Driving for the French team, Lewis Hamilton had dominated the F3 Euro Series in 2005 and the GP2 Series (predecessor of F2) in 2006.

« Ultimately, if you look, I think that on average, the gap between McLaren and us in qualifying was a few hundredths, and we are really at that stage, even with Red Bull and Mercedes, where every detail counts. We really need to have that kind of mindset to search for the last thousandths in every area, and I think Lewis will be a valuable asset for that as well. »

Lewis Hamilton, for his part, does not underestimate the challenge he’s taking on by joining Maranello. “Of course, it brings a lot of motivation and it’s a dream scenario for any driver to have an opportunity like this,” said the future Ferrari driver at Yas Marina.

« I realize that it’s a difficult challenge… You know, I remember when I joined Mercedes, and it’s never easy to integrate into a new team. It takes time to build new relationships, learn the tools, and everything else. I will approach next year with the same focus and energy as when I arrived at Mercedes, with ultimately that leap into the unknown that is both exciting and challenging. »