“Fred Vasseur on Signing Lewis Hamilton: ‘It Wasn’t Difficult—Ferrari Has Always Been in His Thoughts'”
“Fred Vasseur on Signing Lewis Hamilton: ‘It Wasn’t Difficult—Ferrari Has Always Been in His Thoughts'”
Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, recently shed light on the ease with which Ferrari managed to sign Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes, a move that took many in the Formula 1 world by surprise. The seven-time world champion, who had long been associated with Mercedes, had even signed a two-year contract with them just six months before this unexpected announcement in February. However, despite previous commitments and discussions of ending his career with Mercedes, Hamilton made the switch, joining Ferrari as teammate to Charles Leclerc.
The switch to Ferrari marks a significant career shift for Hamilton, now 39, and is expected to be his last move in the sport. According to Vasseur, Hamilton had long held an affinity for Ferrari, and this interest played a key role in facilitating the deal. “It wasn’t difficult actually,” Vasseur told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Ferrari has always been in his thoughts in some ways, and now the stars have aligned.”
Hamilton’s admiration for Ferrari is something he’s been open about throughout his career, often referring to the team’s iconic status in Formula 1. He has previously shared memories of his early years, dreaming of the opportunity to drive for the legendary team. Vasseur also pointed out that Hamilton’s motivation to join Ferrari stems from a desire to secure further victories rather than to coast toward retirement. “He comes to win, not on vacation,” Vasseur emphasized, adding, “And I’m convinced that we have everything to try.”
This sentiment was echoed by Hamilton himself, who spoke of the personal meaning of racing in Ferrari red. For him, the prospect of joining Ferrari isn’t just about racing but about fulfilling a childhood dream and taking on a new challenge. He reflected on the impact Ferrari had on him growing up, watching Michael Schumacher’s golden years with the team. “I think for every driver growing up, watching the history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, I think probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up, and you see the driver in the red cockpit, and you wonder what it would be like to be surrounded by the red,” Hamilton shared.
The decision to join Ferrari is deeply intertwined with the emotional appeal the team holds for drivers. Hamilton noted how the Italian Grand Prix at Monza often leaves drivers in awe due to the overwhelming presence of Ferrari fans, famously clad in red. Reflecting on this, he stated, “You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the sea of red Ferrari fans, and you can only stand in awe of that.”
Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari’s last championship was in 2007, making it a challenging task to bring them back to the top. But the prospect of attempting to end that title drought was part of what made Ferrari so alluring for him. “It’s a team that’s not had huge success recently, and I saw it as a huge challenge,” he explained.
Vasseur’s move to the role of team principal also contributed to Hamilton’s decision. Both he and Hamilton have a connection dating back to the junior racing circuits, which created an additional sense of trust and alignment between them. This shared history might have helped reinforce Hamilton’s belief that joining Ferrari at this moment was the right decision.
For Ferrari, the acquisition of Hamilton symbolizes a commitment to revitalizing the team’s performance. Hamilton’s competitive spirit and wealth of experience bring hope to Ferrari fans worldwide. Both the team and Hamilton appear determined to make the most of this new chapter, with Ferrari aiming to capitalize on Hamilton’s drive to win as they work toward reclaiming the success they haven’t seen in over a decade.
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