Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has shed light on the primary motivation behind the Scuderia’s decision to sign seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 season.
Although Hamilton had signed a new contract with Mercedes in the summer of 2023, which was set to keep him with the team until the end of 2025, a release clause in his deal allowed him to make a move to Ferrari. He will join the Maranello-based team for the 2025 season after completing his final year with Mercedes in 2024.
In an interview with Sky Italia, Vasseur highlighted Hamilton’s extensive experience as a key factor in Ferrari’s decision. He praised Hamilton’s track record, noting, “We recognize the benefits of Lewis’ arrival, such as his immense experience. Despite some opinions suggesting otherwise, he has consistently been the top point scorer for Mercedes. His efficiency is a valuable reference point for us.”
Hamilton will team up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Leclerc has faced challenges in recent seasons, often competing against drivers in more competitive cars. Commenting on Leclerc’s recent performance, Vasseur acknowledged, “Leclerc has had some difficulties over the past few weekends, but he remains focused. Sometimes, our collective reaction may have been overblown.”
Ferrari has faced significant issues with their upgrade package introduced at the Spanish Grand Prix. The upgrades caused severe bouncing on the SF-24, leading the team to revert to the previous floor and bodywork specification at the British Grand Prix. Ferrari has since made adjustments to the floor, addressing most of the problems.
Reflecting on the challenges, Vasseur stated, “Reverting to the old updates was a difficult decision, but we made it. We lost two months, but we have other solutions in the works and remain optimistic and proactive.”
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