Sports

Ferrari chief opens up on Lewis Hamilton ‘personal baggage’ ahead of Mercedes switch

 

 

 

Lewis Hamilton will team up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari from next year

 

Lewis Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. (Image: Getty Images)

Ferrari’s team principal Frederic Vasseur has expressed high hopes that Lewis Hamilton’s “personal baggage” will be instrumental in propelling the Maranello outfit into a championship-contending position.

 

ADVERTISEMENT

 

 

The motorsport world was left stunned when Hamilton announced his departure from Mercedes to don the iconic red of Ferrari before the current season kicked off. The British racing star is set to make an eagerly anticipated debut with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix next March, where Melbourne will step in for Bahrain as the 2025 season’s opening race due to Ramadan timings.

 

Securing the services of the seven-time F1 champion marks a significant triumph for Ferrari. Vasseur divulges his expectation that Hamilton, who will have celebrated his 40th birthday by the time he races for the Scuderia, will greatly contribute to the “cultural mix” he desires in his team.

 

 

Speaking to FormulaPassion, Vasseur said: “One thing that is valid for Lewis, but also for the engineers, is that it is important to have a cultural mix, with people from different backgrounds, experiences and education. Hamilton brings his own personal baggage.”

 

He went on to describe Hamilton’s wealth of experience from his tenure with top-tier outfits like McLaren and Mercedes, and his confidence in Hamilton’s ability to spur the team’s evolution: “In addition to being a seven-time world champion, he has a great deal of experience in working with top teams, such as McLaren and Mercedes. I also know his qualities and I am sure that he will contribute to the evolution of the team. It is not just a question of being fast on the track, but also of motivating and pushing the team.”

 

 

Ferrari’s French team principal Frederic Vasseur arrives ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 7, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP) (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images) (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Hamilton has seen many teammates come and go during his illustrious career. Presently, he shares the Mercedes garage with George Russell and aside from occasional tension, their partnership appears largely harmonious.

 

The dynamic within the Formula One teams can be as competitive as the races themselves, and Hamilton’s partnerships over the years have been no exception. Notably, during his first season, he found himself at odds with Fernando Alonso at McLaren, leading to the Spaniard’s departure at the end of that year.

 

In the upcoming season, Hamilton is set to team up with Charles Leclerc, a driver who has long been a pivotal figure in Ferrari’s strategy. The pairing will test Leclerc’s mettle against one of the sport’s all-time greats, a challenge given his status as Ferrari’s leading driver until now.

 

However, ex-Alfa Romeo boss Vasseur has expressed confidence in the new partnership. He believes that Leclerc stands to gain immensely from competing alongside a seven-time world champion like Hamilton.

 

Vasseur elaborated on his perspective, stating: “They are at different points in their careers. Charles can learn a lot from Lewis, who has 18 seasons of Formula 1 under his belt and has gained a huge amount of experience. I am sure that their relationship will be positive and this will create a beneficial dynamic for the team.”

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Daily Express – Express F1 newsletter

Enter your email address here

SUBSCRIBE

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

 

RELATED ARTICLES

Oscar Piastri disagrees with McLaren boss after Lewis Hamilton left him in dust

Verstappen’s 11-word comment sums him up after brutal Hamilton and Norris dig

Christian Horner makes quick Sergio Perez call after Red Bull meeting with Helmut Marko

Max Verstappen’s 11-word comment sums him up after brutal Hamilton, Russell and Norris dig

Daniel Ricciardo makes thoughts clear on Jacques Villeneuve ‘talking s**t’ about him

Red Bull told to punish Max Verstappen as constant outbursts reach crunch point

Helmut Marko drops big hint over Red Bull move for Lando Norris with brutal comparison

Toto Wolff told to ‘pay George Russell his money’ as Mercedes put in awkward situation

Christian Horner loses another key Red Bull ally as exodus continues

Carlos Sainz told he won’t get his own way as James Vowles backed to give tough love

Lando Norris tells Red Bull they made huge driver mistake with brutally honest verdict

New footage of Max Verstappen teasing Fernando Alonso during Belgian GP surfaces

Alpine ‘close in’ on driver for second 2025 F1 seat after Carlos Sainz snub

HOROSCOPESAPPSWEATHERPAPER

HOME

NEWS

SHOWBIZ & TV

SPORT

COMMENT

FINANCE

TRAVEL

ENTERTAINMENT

LIFE & STYLE

TODAY’S PAPER

 

Saturday, 3rd August 2024

See today’s front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.

 

CONNECT WITH US

 

Find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Follow us on Snapchat

Check our YouTube channel

Subscribe to our rss feed

Play Express Wins Apps

Horoscopes Puzzles

Shop Discount codes

Partner Stories Hopsmore Beer Club

Beauty Box Subscription

Sitemap Site Archive

About Us Social Media

Journalists How to Complain

Report A Tech Issue Advertising

Affiliate advertising Cookie Policy

Cookies Settings Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy Community Standards

AI Notice Syndication and Licensing

Clarifications and Corrections InYourArea

Developed by Netro42 mynewsassistant

IPSO R

egulatedCopyright ©2024 Express Newspapers. “Daily Express” is a registered trademark. All rights reserved.

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button