Frederic Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton is proving to be a “good match” with Ferrari, because the seven-time world champion prepares for his debut marketing campaign with the Italian group.
Having introduced final February that he would be part of Ferrari after 12 years at Mercedes in some of the beautiful driver transfers in Method 1 historical past, Hamilton is simply weeks away from his first race in crimson.
The 40-year-old Brit stated 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 group’s personal Fiorano check monitor on Wednesday alongside team-mate Charles Leclerc.
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Vasseur was Hamilton’s group boss in GP2 (now Method 2) in 2006 and seems to be very happy with what he has seen through the early levels of their reunion, forward of pre-season testing in Bahrain subsequent week – dwell on Sky Sports activities F1.
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Ferrari reveal putting crimson for his or her SF-25 Ferrari F1 automotive as Lewis Hamilton says he feels ‘invigorated’ for his first season with a brand new group
He stated: “He isn’t the identical, he is 20 years older than once we had been collectively first and all people is altering, enhancing, growing.
“For certain, he is far more mature, far more skilled and he is the proper match with the group at the moment.
“That is precisely what I used to be in search of, for the group, for me, for Charles, I feel it is the proper mixture.”
Hamilton’s age, and a few underwhelming performances – notably in qualifying – throughout his ultimate 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 potential.
He added: “He confirmed in Abu Dhabi, ranging from the again and coming again to P4, overtaking Russell within the final lap, that the tempo is there and I had little question earlier than.”
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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.
‘Now we have to keep away from being shy with Hamilton’
Hamilton arrives at a Ferrari group which fell marginally wanting claiming a primary Constructors’ Championship since 2008 as they completed 2024 simply 14 factors behind McLaren.
There’s nice pleasure in Italy that Hamilton’s arrival may help 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 check days over the past month.
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Talking from the F1 75 crimson carpet, former F1 drivers Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi share their help for Lewis Hamilton and stay up for the brand new season.
Whereas Vasseur acknowledges that scenario will, no less than 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 ultimate season of its present cycle of laws.
Vasseur stated: “They (drivers) all are a part of the event of the automotive, of the evolution of the automotive. For certain, for Lewis it is the primary stage of this collaboration, as a result of he did solely two TPCs (testing of earlier vehicles) and is now on monitor, however for certain, the suggestions is at all times vital.
“The suggestions helps the group to develop and to do a greater job. Even when it is some small particulars, what now we have 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 median 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 go away Mercedes on the finish of 2024 to affix Ferrari.
“It implies that we’re at all times talking about particulars. It is not a matter of adjusting the automotive utterly or no matter. If we’re in a position to carry a small little bit of efficiency on one or two subjects, it is already an enormous step ahead.
“And Lewis is coming together with his personal expertise, together with his personal background, and he’ll assist the group 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 monitor.
“And us as a group, now we have to keep away from being shy and to attempt to perceive the place we are able to enhance. And that is my job and the job of the technicians.”
Watch Method 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
