Ferrari prepares for Lewis Hamilton’s arrival: ‘Not a copy-paste of Mercedes’…More
Ferrari prepares for Lewis Hamilton’s arrival: ‘Not a copy-paste of Mercedes’
Carlos Sainz’s tenure with Ferrari ended on a heartfelt note at the Fiorano test track, Ferrari’s private circuit in Maranello, where a Spanish fan displayed a flag with a farewell message: “Chili, you are and you will always be a Ferrari driver, whatever your destiny is. I love you. Vamos. Good luck.”
On a crisp December morning, Sainz shared the track with his father, rally legend Carlos Sr., both driving Ferrari F1 cars.
It was an emotional farewell, marked by camaraderie and their competitive spirit as they later compared telemetry data.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur praised Sainz’s professionalism throughout a challenging year.
The farewell moment at Fiorano coincided with Ferrari’s annual Christmas media lunch, where Vasseur reflected on Sainz’s contributions and the dramatic changes ahead for the team.
Twelve months earlier, Vasseur had assured journalists that decisions about Ferrari’s 2025 driver lineup were still far off.
However, in a surprise move, Ferrari secured seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who announced his departure from Mercedes in February despite recently renewing his contract.
Vasseur acknowledged it was difficult to inform Sainz of the decision, but Sainz remained dedicated, delivering standout performances throughout the season.
Notably, he won the Australian Grand Prix just weeks after abdominal surgery and triumphed again in Mexico.
Alongside Charles Leclerc, Sainz helped Ferrari finish second in the constructors’ championship, narrowly missing the title by 14 points to McLaren.
Vasseur emphasized that while 14 points is a slim margin, it highlighted the importance of perfect execution in every race.
Hamilton’s impending arrival at Ferrari brings both excitement and significant adjustments.
His transition to Ferrari will be swift, with a six-week period in early 2025 to familiarize himself with the team and its systems before the season kicks off.
Ferrari plans no grand unveiling of Hamilton in January, focusing instead on performance and preparation.
Vasseur downplayed concerns about Hamilton adapting to Ferrari’s environment, citing the driver’s vast experience.
Hamilton will prepare through simulator work and testing older Ferrari models under the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program.
When questioned about Hamilton’s first Ferrari test, Vasseur humorously avoided revealing details but noted that weather would influence its timing.
While Ferrari won’t replicate Mercedes’ approach to managing Hamilton, Vasseur is confident in tailoring a system to suit both the driver and the team’s unique dynamics.
Despite Hamilton’s struggles during his final season with Mercedes, which saw him outperformed by teammate George Russell, Vasseur expressed no concerns about Hamilton’s form. He credited the challenges to the difficulty of managing a team in transition.
As for Hamilton’s relationship with Leclerc, Vasseur sees no issues, noting their mutual respect and anticipation of competing alongside each other.
Leclerc had a strong 2024 season, securing three victories and a third-place finish in the drivers’ standings.
Vasseur believes their rivalry will motivate the team, emphasizing that competition between teammates is a positive dynamic when fighting for wins.
Cultural adaptation will be part of Hamilton’s journey at Ferrari, but Vasseur joked that learning Italian wasn’t essential, as most meetings are conducted in English.
He quipped that Hamilton should “avoid too much pasta,” humorously patting his stomach.
Vasseur highlighted Ferrari’s progress in 2024, pointing to improvements in reliability, strategy, pit stops, and overall performance, with five wins compared to one the previous year.
Although Ferrari narrowly missed the constructors’ title, Vasseur sees this as motivation for 2025.
He stressed the importance of minimizing mistakes in a tightly contested championship.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, one of F1’s most iconic teams, sets the stage for an intense 2025 season.
With Ferrari’s clear progress and a stronger lineup, the team aims to convert its title challenge into a championship victory.
As Vasseur noted, every decision and point will be critical in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season.
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