Signing Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, Fred Vasseur says it “wasn’t..... R

Signing Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, Fred Vasseur says it “wasn’t difficult” as the Briton had always thought of racing for Ferrari.

In February, Formula 1 fans were left stunned when Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, announced he would be leaving Mercedes at the end of the current season to join Ferrari. This unexpected move came as a surprise, especially considering that just six months prior, Hamilton had signed a new one-plus-one-year contract with Mercedes, expressing his desire to finish his F1 career with the team. Instead, Hamilton’s next chapter will see him racing in Ferrari’s iconic red, as he joins the Scuderia on a multi-year deal, partnering with Charles Leclerc for the 2025 season and beyond.

Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, revealed that the negotiations were smoother and faster than expected, stating, “It wasn’t difficult actually. Ferrari has always been in his thoughts in some ways and now the stars have aligned.” Vasseur is confident that Hamilton is not joining Ferrari just to wind down his career but is determined to win. “He comes to win, not on vacation,” Vasseur added, expressing optimism that the team has everything in place to contend for titles with Hamilton on board.

The process of signing Hamilton reportedly moved at an unusually rapid pace. According to a report by The Guardian, the contract negotiations were completed in record time, with one lawyer involved in the deal calling it the fastest they had ever encountered in F1. Ferrari was reportedly “excited” as