F1: Vasseur judges Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari as a “huge opportunity”

“We are sure that this will allow us to take a good step forward for the future, it will be a good challenge for everyone” declared the Frenchman during a press point, on the sidelines of the presentation of the 2024 single-seater of the Scuderia.

The manager spoke for the first time publicly since Ferrari announced in early February the arrival of Hamilton, 39, in its ranks next year. The Briton will join the team after twelve seasons at Mercedes, where he has driven since 2013 and won six of his seven world titles.

The surprise announcement of his transfer to the legendary Prancing Horse team – which has been hoping for a title since 2007 among the drivers (Kimi Räikkönen) and since 2008 among the constructors – took the entire paddock by surprise.

Asked how the negotiations went, Vasseur – who has already mentored Hamilton in the lower categories – in the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2005 and in the GP2 Series in 2006, with the titles up for grabs – explained: “we are discussing good relations for more than 20 years, we have always been in contact to talk about this and other things, it happened naturally.

The English champion will replace Carlos Sainz next year, who explained on Tuesday “to have been a little surprised” by the news. “I learned the news a little earlier than the others (…) it gave me a little time to digest, draw my own conclusions and focus on the 2024 season,” the Spaniard admitted on Tuesday. .

This choice “has nothing to do” with Sainz’s performances, Vasseur defended, “but we must take into account the fact that he (Hamilton) has the greatest track record on the grid, he is the one who has the most of experience and that this is a huge opportunity for us.

As for Charles Leclerc, the other Ferrari driver, the Monegasque explained on Tuesday that he had learned that he would team up with Hamilton next year before the extension of his contract “for several years” announced at the end of January.

“This kind of agreement is not finalized overnight,” recalled the 2022 world vice-champion, engaged since 2019 with the Scuderia. At 26, the pilot now intends to benefit from “the great experience” of his elder.