Frederic Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton is proving to be a “perfect fit” with Ferrari, because the seven-time world champion prepares for his debut marketing campaign with the Italian workforce.
Having introduced final February that he would be a part of Ferrari after 12 years at Mercedes in one of the crucial beautiful driver transfers in System 1 historical past, Hamilton is simply weeks away from his first race in crimson.
The 40-year-old Brit mentioned he was feeling “invigorated” at F1’s all-team launch in London on Tuesday, earlier than driving their 2025 automotive – the SF-25 – for the primary time on the workforce’s personal Fiorano take a look at observe on Wednesday alongside team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Vasseur was Hamilton’s workforce boss in GP2 (now System 2) in 2006 and seems to be more than happy with what he has seen through the early phases of their reunion, forward of pre-season testing in Bahrain subsequent week – dwell on Sky Sports activities F1.
He mentioned: “He is not the identical, he is 20 years older than after we have been collectively first and everyone is altering, enhancing, growing.
“For certain, he is rather more mature, rather more skilled and he is the proper match with the workforce as we speak.
“That’s exactly what I was looking for, for the team, for me, for Charles, I think it’s the perfect combination.”
Hamilton’s age, and a few underwhelming performances – notably in qualifying – throughout his remaining season with Mercedes have led some to query whether or not his powers are declining, however Vasseur pointed to the 2024 season finale as proof of the Brit’s capability.
He added: “He showed in Abu Dhabi, starting from the back and coming back to P4, overtaking Russell in the last lap, that the pace is there and I had no doubt before.”
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Anthony Davidson is on the SkyPad to analyse Lewis Hamilton’s final ever overtake for Mercedes as he handed teammate George Russell on the ultimate lap in Abu Dhabi.
‘We’ve to keep away from being shy with Hamilton’
Hamilton arrives at a Ferrari workforce which fell marginally wanting claiming a primary Constructors’ Championship since 2008 as they completed 2024 simply 14 factors behind McLaren.
There may be nice pleasure in Italy that Hamilton’s arrival can assist finish that wait, or the one for a drivers’ title which stretches again a 12 months additional.
Earlier than Wednesday’s SF-25 shakedown, Hamilton’s solely different time in a Ferrari has been driving their vehicles from the last few seasons in take a look at days during the last month.
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Talking from the F1 75 crimson carpet, former F1 drivers Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi share their assist for Lewis Hamilton and stay up for the brand new season.
Whereas Vasseur acknowledges that state of affairs will, a minimum of for now, restrict how a lot suggestions Hamilton can present, even small choices could possibly be essential given the anticipated tightness of the battle on the entrance in 2025 as the game enters the fourth and remaining season of its present cycle of laws.
Vasseur mentioned: “They (drivers) all are part of the development of the car, of the evolution of the car. For sure, for Lewis it’s the first stage of this collaboration, because he did only two TPCs (testing of previous cars) and is now on track, but for sure, the feedback is always important.
“The suggestions helps the workforce to develop and to do a greater job. Even when it is some small particulars, what we’ve got to remember is that final 12 months, we completed 14 factors behind McLaren. It implies that it is lower than one level per race. It is a mean three hundredths of a second between us and the man in entrance of us on the grid.
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On the primary anniversary of the announcement, watch again how February 1 2024 unfolded across the beautiful breaking information Lewis Hamilton would depart Mercedes on the finish of 2024 to affix Ferrari.
“It means that we are always speaking about details. It’s not a matter of changing the car completely or whatever. If we are able to bring a small bit of performance on one or two topics, it’s already a huge step forward.
“And Lewis is coming together with his personal expertise, together with his personal background, and he’ll assist the workforce to develop in each single space. For certain, he’ll do a fast comparability between the 2 engines, between the 2 chassis, between how we function on observe.
“And us as a team, we have to avoid being shy and to try to understand where we can improve. And this is my job and the job of the technicians.”
Watch System 1 pre-season testing from February 26-28 in Bahrain dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
