Ferrari F1 team principal Fred Vasseur has urged his team to remain grounded despite the excitement surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s official signing with the Scuderia.
After spending 12 years with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion Hamilton officially joined Ferrari on January 1, 2025, ahead of the new F1 season. He will be paired with Charles Leclerc, while Carlos Sainz moves to Williams. Hamilton aims to secure a record-breaking eighth world championship this year.
Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, Vasseur spoke about the importance of keeping focus. “Everybody all over the world is excited [about Hamilton joining] and for sure, the mechanics are also excited,” Vasseur told Sky Sports News. “It’s always exciting to have someone who is a seven-time world champion into the car. But I think after day one, we’ll have to turn this page and focus on the job.”
Vasseur also addressed whether Hamilton would feel emotional when driving a Ferrari for the first time, particularly with a TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) day likely to be scheduled in Fiorano for January. “Yeah, it’s true that it’s quite emotional because I think he has had this moment in his mind for probably 20 years,” he said. “It means that it will be emotional, but it has to be emotional for one lap! And then, to be focused.”
He continued, “Every single team is different for sure, but we are all chasing the same goal with the same approach. What is a bit different is the passion or the emotion around the team, but I think Lewis is well prepared to manage this.”
Despite having endured a tough 2024 season, where he finished seventh in the championship, Hamilton managed to secure victories at the British and Belgian Grand Prix. The 39-year-old shared a nostalgic photo of himself karting as a child on his Instagram on New Year’s Day, featuring a red racing car in reference to his move to Ferrari.
Hamilton is expected to attend the 2025 season launch in London on February 18, followed by Ferrari’s own livery unveiling the next day, February 19.
