For Frederic Vasseur, the pairing of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc holds no secrets. Both have raced in the junior categories with the team that the current Ferrari team principal managed for over twenty years in F.3 and F.2, achieving successes that helped open the doors to Formula 1.
Fred Vasseur spoke about this yesterday, alongside Charles Leclerc at the Festival dello Sport organized in Trento by the Italian daily newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. After receiving a standing ovation, they touched on many topics, from the current season to their personal relationship, but of course, Hamilton was a key topic.
Fred Vasseur revealed that the negotiations with Lewis were smooth thanks to a desire Hamilton had been nurturing for twenty years. “Yes, it wasn’t that difficult to convince Lewis,” he revealed. “I remember back in 2004 we were together (in the European F.3 championship), at the time he was tied to McLaren-Mercedes, but he already had in mind that he would eventually move to Ferrari.”
“We talked about it some time ago, he always had this desire in mind, but of course, he’s a driver who wants performance guarantees, for him, this aspect is always a priority. If he chose to join Ferrari, it confirms to me that we will have the right car. This is the ultimate goal, a driver like Lewis doesn’t come to us on vacation, and from my perspective, I believe we are at the right point in terms of performance. We need a step forward, and I can say we’re dedicating a lot of resources to our next project.”
In 2025, Charles Leclerc will no longer be the only ex-Vasseur driver in the Scuderia garage; Hamilton will also have his past and long-standing friendship with the team principal. Could there be any jealousy from Charles?
“I don’t think so,” he commented, smiling. “Fred is not my girlfriend, we care for each other, we respect each other, but there’s no jealousy. I’ve always been aware of the negotiations between Lewis and Ferrari, I knew this possibility existed, everything was very transparent, and I was the first to say that for me, having a teammate of this caliber would be motivating.”
“When you have a seven-time world champion driving the same car as you, it’s a super interesting challenge, plus I have a great relationship with Lewis, and I’m sure it will continue like this in the future. That said, I must say that I’ve also had a great collaboration with Carlos; we worked very well together, and our relationship has always been excellent. In a few months, we’ll turn the page, and I admit that I’m excited to start the new challenge with Lewis. Every teammate has strong and weak points, so you can always learn. I see it as a great opportunity.”
Charles Leclerc then spoke about the special relationship he has with Vasseur, a bond that began many years ago when he was still a kart driver.
“I don’t have a clear memory; Fred and I have different dates regarding our first meeting, but for sure I was very young. We’ve known each other for many years, and of course, that creates a special relationship, sometimes just a glance is enough for us to understand each other. For example, when I make a mistake and see Fred coming to talk to me, I look at him and say, ‘Fred, I already know what you’re going to say,’ he smiles and walks away because he knows I’ve understood. Another thing I really appreciate about him is his honesty. When I was in Formula 3 or Formula 2, I had people around me who spoke to me without filters, every time I made a mistake, it was always pointed out clearly.”
“When I became a Ferrari driver, things changed a bit, maybe because you become more famous or, at least I think, many people are a bit more hesitant in their approach, it’s harder to get an authentic, unfiltered comment. But Fred comes to me and tells me to my face what he thinks, and I believe this aspect is very important in Formula 1. We’re not perfect, we make mistakes, but the important thing is to learn and grow every day.”
