Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur has backed Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at the team to be advantageous to Charles Leclerc as it will alleviate the pressure on him.
Hamilton’s name has been plastered across the sporting headlines in the lead-up to this season as he prepares to embark on a new chapter in his decorated career with Ferrari.
The seven-time F1 champion’s strive to claim a record eighth Drivers’ title has seen him slot in alongside Leclerc, who is now entering his seventh season with the team.
Leclerc admitted that the intense spotlight on his team-mate across the winter has provided a unique experience at Ferrari as he has been allowed to go under the radar
“For me, that meant that the off-season was a bit more in the shadow, but I enjoyed it,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week in Bahrain during pre-season testing.
“I focused on myself, I’m pushing at the maximum to be ready for the first race and I’m really looking forward to this year. I’m hoping that we’ll start the year in a more positive way.”
Vasseur believes Hamilton’s presence will relieve the burden on Leclerc at Ferrari, which he suspects will have a positive impact on him in the upcoming campaign.
“From the first day I started talking to Lewis, I was convinced it would be beneficial for Charles, because it would take some of the pressure off him,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“And then, after four years alongside Carlos [Sainz], the best way to learn was to have a new team-mate.”
Hamilton and Leclerc will push Ferrari ‘to its limits’
Vasseur is convinced that the close intra-team competition that is anticipated between his two drivers will be a boost to Ferrari’s ambitions rather than a hindrance.
“What do Leclerc and Hamilton have in common? They wear the same uniform,” Vasseur remarked.
“They both have a champion mentality, they are enthusiastic and demanding.
“They push the team to its limits, we need this kind of internal competition. It’s a process of emulation, performance comes from comparison.”
Ferrari convinced it has title-winning pairing
Ferrari harbours hope that Hamilton’s vast title-winning pedigree will provide the added ingredient that helps the Italian marque to end its championship drought since 2008.
But while he is certain the Hamilton and Leclerc combination can deliver the ultimate prize, Vasseur has acknowledged that will depend on the equipment at their disposal.
“I don’t want to venture into predictions,” he said. “We have two top drivers, they have shown that they can win races and championships.
“I hope they win a lot of races, then in the second half of the championship we will see where we are for the World Championship.”
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