Ferrari Formula 1 boss Frederic Vasseur is convinced that the impending arrival of Lewis Hamilton at the team in 2025 will “help” Charles Leclerc develop as a driver.
Ferrari announced on the eve of the current campaign that it had negotiated an agreement to recruit Hamilton, who activated an exit clause in his Mercedes contract.
The future acquisition of the seven-time F1 champion will see Carlos Sainz vacate his place as Leclerc had penned a long-term contract deal prior to that bombshell.
Sainz has rebounded from the news that he will exit the Italian marque at the end of 2024 with three podiums from three races this term, including a win in Australia.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has endured his worst start to an F1 season since he debuted in the sport, scoring a pitiful 10 points to sit in ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.
But Vasseur has stated he harbours no regrets over signing Hamilton, whom he worked with in GP2 and has labelled as “an absolute master” for Leclerc to learn from.
“The arrival of Lewis Hamilton? It is important for the team,” Vasseur told Radio France earlier this month.
“Beyond the speed, it brings serenity to the team, experience, a track record. An experience of victory, which we also need at Ferrari to move forward.
“I’m also super happy because I’m convinced that the two will get along well. It’s going to help Charles the driver.
“It’s not just the performance in the car, in qualifying or the race. It’s also 365 days a year and on this, I think Lewis is an absolute master.”
Vasseur’s comments follow an assessment from 1997 F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve, who believes Leclerc faces a decisive period up against Hamilton.
The Canadian told GPFans: “Charles was brought into Ferrari as a champion when he wasn’t because he was brought in from Sauber saying: ‘Well, he is a champion’.
“No, because he was beating someone in karting or whatever, that doesn’t pan out. He still has to prove it.
“He’s shown a lot of speed, he’s shown that he’s super fast, but he’s not the one who won the race for Ferrari last year.
“So it will be interesting to see how that balances out inside Ferrari. This will be make or break for Charles, not for Lewis.”
