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Lewis Hamilton’s New Chapter with Ferrari: A Perfect Fit?
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal, has described Lewis Hamilton as a “perfect fit” for the team as the seven-time World Champion gears up for his inaugural season with Ferrari. The announcement of Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari last February marked one of the most remarkable driver transfers in Formula 1 history.
As he approaches his debut in the iconic red, Hamilton expressed feelings of being “invigorated” at the recent F1 all-team launch in London, where he also drove the SF-25, Ferrari’s new car for the 2025 season, at their Fiorano test track. Vasseur, who previously managed Hamilton in GP2 in 2006, praised the evolution of Hamilton both personally and professionally since their earlier collaboration.
Vasseur elaborated on Hamilton’s growth, saying, “He’s not the same; he’s 20 years older than when we were together first, and everybody is changing, improving, developing. For sure, he’s much more mature, much more experienced and he’s the perfect fit with the team today. That’s exactly what I was looking for.” He believes that the combination of Hamilton’s experience and the youthful energy of teammate Charles Leclerc is an ideal match for the team’s ambitions.
Despite reaching the age of 40 and facing criticism for some underwhelming performances during his last season with Mercedes, Vasseur highlighted Hamilton’s impressive drive in the 2024 season finale as evidence of his enduring talent. Hamilton showcased his skill by starting from the back of the grid and finishing in fourth place, overtaking teammate George Russell on the final lap. This performance, according to Vasseur, underscored Hamilton’s competitive pace and determination.
Riding High Hopes at Ferrari
Hamilton enters a Ferrari team that narrowly missed out on the Constructors’ Championship in 2024, finishing just 14 points behind McLaren. There is considerable optimism within the Italian team that Hamilton could be the catalyst to reclaim a championship title that has eluded them since 2008, as well as a driver’s title that dates back even further.
Before his recent drive in the SF-25, Hamilton’s contact with Ferrari was limited to testing the team’s previous models. Vasseur recognized that this limited exposure could restrict Hamilton’s immediate impact on car development but emphasized that any feedback from Hamilton, no matter how minor, could be essential in a closely contested season ahead.
Vasseur noted, “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… but the feedback is always important.” He stressed that the gap between Ferrari and the front of the pack is minimal, with less than one point per race separating them from McLaren last season.
Vasseur further elaborated on the importance of fine-tuning the car, saying, “It’s not a matter of changing the car completely or whatever. If we can bring a small bit of performance on one or two topics, that’s already a huge step forward.” He acknowledged the necessity for the team to remain open to improvement, leveraging Hamilton’s experience in this quest for competitive advantage.
Formula 1 pre-season testing is to be held in Bahrain from February 26-28, showcasing Hamilton’s first full season with Ferrari live on Sky Sports F1. For more details, visit NOW TV to stream Sky Sports without a contract, cancel anytime.
Source
www.skysports.com