F1 | Fred Vasseur’s strategic move to avoid panic at Ferrari. Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur revealed why Lewis Hamilton’s signing was announced early.

Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur, in a recent interview, has once again spoken about the announcement of Lewis Hamilton as the replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr. and revealed some behind-the-scenes details.

After several weeks of silence, Ferrari team boss Frédéric Vasseur gave an interview to Auto Motor und Sport, where he shared insights about the high-profile move of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari. The announcement came at the very start of 2024, and Vasseur explained why the decision was made at that particular moment.

The impact of media pressure
According to Frédéric Vasseur, the timing of an announcement can be crucial during a Formula 1 season in order to avoid distractions and keep the team focused. “It is not about me. But these things can contribute to people within the team losing their focus,” he said.

Vasseur underlined that one of McLaren’s main strengths in recent seasons has been its ability to work without being under the constant and intense media spotlight that usually surrounds Ferrari and Red Bull. The Ferrari boss added: “Look at what has happened to Red Bull in the past few weeks. There were only rumours about Max Verstappen. And this is a strength of McLaren. They have managed to stay out of all these stories and tensions.”

Respect for Carlos Sainz and stability for Ferrari
Frédéric Vasseur admitted that announcing Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari before the start of the season was both a sign of respect towards Carlos Sainz Jr. and a way to preserve a calm atmosphere inside the Scuderia. It was a carefully planned strategic move designed to protect the interests of the team.

“For this reason, last year I announced the signing of Lewis [Hamilton] before the season started. If I had done it between Imola and Monte Carlo, many people would have gone into panic mode. Instead, Carlos [Sainz Jr.] was informed right from the beginning and was able to process the situation before everything got underway. His focus has remained on the job.”

By making the announcement early, Ferrari avoided destabilising its internal environment and gave Carlos Sainz Jr. the clarity needed to perform without being surrounded by speculation. At the same time, the team ensured that Lewis Hamilton’s future move would not become a disruptive talking point midway through the championship.