Fred Vasseur firmly believes that Lewis Hamilton’s forthcoming stint at Ferrari in the F1 2025 season will significantly contribute to Charles Leclerc’s growth as a driver.
Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari, announced in February, on a multi-year contract marks the end of Carlos Sainz’s tenure as Leclerc’s teammate.
This move marks the conclusion of an immensely successful team-driver partnership in F1 history, with Hamilton clinching six out of his seven World Championships during his tenure with Mercedes since his transition from McLaren in 2013.
The confirmation of Hamilton’s signing came just a week after Leclerc inked a new multi-year agreement with Ferrari. Leclerc, who has been recognized as one of the premier drivers on the grid since his transition from Sauber in 2019, is poised to see the impact of having Hamilton as a teammate.
The effect of Hamilton’s arrival, considering his stature in the sport, on Leclerc’s performance remains uncertain.
Despite securing 23 pole positions with Ferrari, Leclerc has struggled to convert these into consistent victories, remaining at five career wins and facing challenges in establishing a clear advantage over Sainz.
Vasseur has been cautious about discussing Hamilton’s imminent arrival, showing impatience with a reporter who queried about the seven-time World Champion during the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
Similarly, Hamilton himself displayed frustration with a journalist asking about his future at Ferrari, retorting, “Do you have any better questions?”
However, in an interview with Radio France, Vasseur expressed enthusiasm about Hamilton’s potential impact on the team, emphasizing the importance of the 39-year-old’s winning experience for Ferrari’s progress.
He further highlighted that Leclerc could benefit from observing Hamilton, describing the seven-time World Champion as “an absolute master” in maintaining peak performance. Vasseur remarked, “The arrival of Lewis Hamilton? It is important for the team.
“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 remarks follow a cautionary statement from Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, who alerted Leclerc about the high stakes of the upcoming season alongside Hamilton in 2025.
Villeneuve emphasized, “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.”
