Ferrari team boss unveils long-term plan behind Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari F1 switch
Yesterday at 03:36 PM
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has disclosed that discussions about Lewis Hamilton joining the Maranello team began as early as 2004, more than two decades before the move ultimately materialized.
Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes at the close of the 2024 Formula 1 campaign marked the end of an era. He opted to activate a break clause in the two-year contract he had signed midway through 2023, even before that season had officially begun.
The seven-time world champion is now set to team up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, a team revitalized under Frederic Vasseur’s guidance. The Scuderia came tantalizingly close to securing the constructors’ championship in 2024, finishing just 14 points behind the title winners.
When asked about the challenge of persuading Hamilton to leave Mercedes for Ferrari, the French manager revealed that the idea had been planted years ago. During the British driver’s ascent through the junior racing ranks, Frederic Vasseur, then heading ART Grand Prix, had already discussed the possibility of a future collaboration with the young driver.
Frederic Vasseur shared with select media, including ScuderiaFans.com, that Ferrari’s strong start to the 2023 season and their record of winning more races than Mercedes helped make the case for Lewis Hamilton’s move to the team. He noted that Hamilton had likely been contemplating a drive for Ferrari for over two decades, recalling their discussions about the possibility as far back as 2004.
He explained that the timing of Hamilton’s move was a matter of circumstances aligning, with a seat at Ferrari becoming available. Negotiations, which began a year earlier, were reportedly straightforward and required little effort to convince Lewis Hamilton of the project.
Frederic Vasseur also mentioned that he has maintained contact with Lewis Hamilton for 20 years. However, out of respect for Mercedes, their conversations in 2024 were more cautious and avoided discussing technical matters to maintain good relations with the Brackley-based team.
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