Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is prepared to arrive at Ferrari’s Formula 1 team alone in 2025, citing that it is not essential familiar faces follow him from Mercedes.
The Briton ignited the F1 driver market on the eve of the current season when it was announced he activated a clause in his Mercedes deal to agree a move to Ferrari.
Ferrari has also signed Loic Serra, Head of Chassis Performance Engineering, and Jerome d’Ambrosio, Deputy Team Principal, from the German outfit in recent times.
That has prompted reports that other Mercedes members could seek to accompany Hamilton to Maranello, including his long-serving race engineer Peter Bonnington.
However, Hamilton has pointed to his switch to Mercedes in 2013 as evidence that he is not dependent on people moving with him to accelerate his adaption process.
Asked how important it was to have familiar people upon his arrival at Ferrari, Hamilton said: “When I moved to Mercedes, I didn’t know anybody. That was totally fine.
“So I don’t think that makes a big difference, personally, to me.
“But obviously, Loic, I worked with for many, many years. So I have a great relationship, working relationship with Loic as well.
“And my first number two, Jock [Clear], works at that team. So they’re the only two I think I know particularly well, as well as Fred [Vasseur].”
Hamilton has been public about his existing relationship with Vasseur, who founded the ART Grand Prix squad that he clinched the GP2 title with as a rookie in 2006.
“I worked with Fred when I was young in Formula 3 and in GP2. I’ll say back then, I don’t remember spending a huge amount of time, particularly with Fred,” he added.
“You’re more with the mechanics on the weekends. But we have a good friendship and he’s another great leader within the sport.”
However, the seven-time champion admitted last month that he would have to converse on how to manage his impending move with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff soon.
Asked whether discussions would need to be held closer to his Ferrari move to ensure he’s prepared to transition, Hamilton said: “I mean at some stage I will have to.
“I think it will start with a conversation with Toto, because I don’t know how to navigate. I’ve never been in this position before at this point in the year.
“When I was leaving McLaren it was the end of the season, I think I didn’t go to Mercedes until December, had my first seat fit after the season was done, so I imagine the same here.”
