Former Ferrari Formula 1 boss Mattia Binotto has claimed that he wouldn’t have brought Lewis Hamilton to the team in the circumstance where he was still in charge.
Ferrari announced before the current campaign commenced the bombshell revelation that Hamilton will switch to the Italian marque in 2025 on a multi-term contract.
Hamilton has expressed that his previous relationship with current Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur had an integral role in his choice to cut ties with Mercedes.
The Briton will partner with incumbent Charles Leclerc as he will replace the outgoing Carlos Sainz, who has since penned a deal with Williams to remain in the series.
But Binotto, who was at the helm of Ferrari from 2019-2022 and brought Sainz to the team, has disclosed that he wouldn’t have signed Hamilton in Vasseur’s position.
Asked whether he would have taken Hamilton during his tenure, Binotto told Corriere della Sera: “No. But he did very well to go to Ferrari, I agree with his decision.”
Expanding more, Binotto indicated that the seven-time F1 champion’s arrival will undermine Leclerc, whom he believes should be entrusted to return Ferrari to the top.
The Monegasque graduated through the Maranello-based squad’s ranks to reach the senior team, where he has been since 2019 and possesses a long-term contract.
Pressed to discuss the reason he would have not attempted to attract Hamilton to the team, the Swiss-Italian added: “Because Ferrari had focused on other drivers.
“And if the talent is Leclerc, I think he is the one who should be accompanied to the objective in some way.”
Leclerc accepted Hamilton’s Ferrari arrival
However, Vasseur is adamant that Leclerc being receptive to Ferrari’s sensational plan to bring Hamilton on board handed him the green light to ramp up discussions.
“Charles has always agreed and this led me to push hard for it to happen [signing Lewis Hamilton],” he said via Formu1a.uno.
“It is important to have a common vision, then it is clear that you cannot have drivers who are friends, but push in the same direction. It is important to have an intelligent driver.”
Meanwhile, Leclerc has communicated his willingness to be pitted against the best drivers in F1 as he prepares to be compared to the sport’s most decorated name.
“Since I got into Formula 1, I have been very lucky,” he told The Race.
“Instead of thinking that I wish I had a number two driver as a team-mate, I have always thought it is so much better to have the best as your team-mate.
“I have had very, very fast team-mates who have pushed me forward and with Lewis I will learn a lot as well.”
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