Did Lewis Hamilton 'arrange' Ferrari F1 contract to prevent Fred Vasseur's 2025 plans?

01/02/2025 04:43 PM

Lewis Hamilton is officially set to join Ferrari as the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches. The seven-time world champion will begin his tenure with the Maranello team once his Mercedes contract concludes at the end of the year. The British driver bid an emotional farewell to the Mercedes factory last month, marking the conclusion of a historic 12-year partnership that earned him six championship titles and cemented his status as the most successful F1 driver in history.

Fans and pundits alike are eagerly awaiting the 39-year-old's debut with Ferrari, the sport's most iconic and successful team. Ferrari has scheduled Lewis Hamilton's initial test session at their Fiorano Circuit later this month, with backup dates and venues in February should inclement weather disrupt the plan. This highly anticipated first drive promises to be a poignant moment, but Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur lightheartedly warned that Lewis Hamilton would only have a single lap to savor the emotion before shifting focus to preparations for the upcoming season.

In an effort to avoid turning Lewis Hamilton’s arrival into a media frenzy, Ferrari intends to conduct the test in strict secrecy. The team aims to create an environment that prioritizes acclimating Lewis Hamilton to his new surroundings without distractions.

The British driver has secured a lucrative £39 million-per-year contract with Ferrari, running until the conclusion of the 2026 F1 campaign, with an option for a one-year extension. Speculation abounds regarding how the Briton will measure up against his new teammate, Charles Leclerc, in 2025. The Monegasque driver, deeply integrated into the Ferrari organization, has consistently showcased superior qualifying performances compared to the veteran. Nevertheless, Ferrari has declared its commitment to providing equal treatment for both drivers next season.

Despite this pledge, many believe intra-team dynamics could evolve based on performance. It's difficult to imagine Ferrari not favoring the stronger contender if one emerges clearly ahead. However, commentator Tom Coronel has suggested that Lewis Hamilton may have included specific clauses in his contract to prevent Frederic Vasseur from imposing team orders that would disadvantage him relative to the Monegasque driver.

Tom Coronel, speaking on the RacingNews365 YouTube channel, expressed his belief that team orders would not be implemented at Ferrari in 2025. He suggested that Hamilton’s contract was likely structured to prevent such scenarios, adding that he didn't find the idea of team orders plausible under these circumstances.

The Dutch professional racing driver went on to describe Lewis Hamilton as a driver who values reciprocity, stating that the British driver’s approach is often, “If you give, you get.” Coronel noted that Hamilton has demonstrated a willingness to help when needed but also expects to return to his competitive stance quickly.

Referring to the final lap in Abu Dhabi, Tom Coronel pointed out Hamilton's intense battle with teammate George Russell as an example. He questioned why such aggressive competitiveness hadn't been more consistent throughout the season, implying it was unusual to see Hamilton race alongside a teammate with that level of determination.

Will Lewis Hamilton be able to outperform Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season?

Frédéric Vasseur has hinted that the two drivers will be allowed to compete freely against each other next year, a prospect that has excited F1 fans. However, there are growing concerns about whether Hamilton, at 39 years old, can remain competitive against his younger and equally talented teammate.

Hamilton faces a monumental challenge as he enters 2025, especially given the difficulties he encountered in the final season with Mercedes. Struggling with qualifying performance and the unpredictable nature of the W15, his results were inconsistent at best, and he found himself unable to consistently challenge for top positions. Despite securing victories at Silverstone and Spa—his first since 2021—Hamilton finished a career-low seventh in the standings, trailing his teammate George Russell by 22 points.

Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, remarked that Hamilton had appeared “very flat” during the past season, which has led to widespread skepticism about whether the British driver will thrive at Ferrari or end up following in the footsteps of former world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, who both failed to capture additional titles with the Italian team.

Nevertheless, moments during the 2024 season demonstrated that Hamilton still possesses the skill and determination to fight at the front of the grid and challenge for victories. The real question, however, remains whether he can maintain that level of performance consistently at Ferrari, where he will need to adapt to a new environment, including unfamiliar team dynamics and language barriers.

The post Did Lewis Hamilton 'arrange' Ferrari F1 contract to prevent Fred Vasseur's 2025 plans? appeared first on Scuderia Fans.