Fred Vasseur reiterates: “Lewis Hamilton’s age is not a problem, his pace is still there”. Fred Vasseur spoke about the importance of Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton always in the spotlight

On the day of the highly anticipated debut of the new SF-25, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur held the traditional press conference with journalists, covering a wide range of topics. One of the most discussed subjects—predictably—was Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion is a protégé of Fred Vasseur, who worked with him in the junior categories before the Briton entered Formula 1. Two decades have passed since then, but the French team principal has no concerns about the physical condition of the most successful driver in F1 history.

Age doesn’t matter

“Am I worried about Hamilton’s age? I think [his value] was evident in Abu Dhabi, where he started from the back and finished fourth, overtaking Russell on the last lap,” Fred Vasseur confidently stated. “His pace is still there, but I had no doubts even before. Clearly, he is not the same Lewis I worked with. He is 20 years older than when we first collaborated—everyone changes, improves, and he is certainly much more mature and experienced. He is the perfect teammate for today’s team. He is exactly what I was looking for—for the team, for myself, and for Charles.” – the Ferrari team boss explained.

The development of the SF-25

Continuing his conversation with the media, Fred Vasseur also discussed the development of the new car and the role the British champion can play in improving its performance: “Everyone is involved in the development of the car,” Ferrari’s team boss explained. “Of course, Lewis is at the early stage of this collaboration since he has only done two TPC sessions and is now on track. But feedback is always important. It helps the team develop and do a better job, even when it comes to small details.

“What we must keep in mind is that last year we finished just 14 points behind McLaren. That’s less than one point per race, which means we are talking about details. It’s not about completely changing the car. If we can improve performance in one or two areas, that’s already a huge step forward. Lewis brings his experience and background, and he will certainly help the team develop in every single area.” – the French manager pointed out.

“We will definitely make a quick comparison between the two engines, the two chassis, and how we operate on track. As a team, we must avoid being timid and instead try to understand where we can improve. That is my job and the job of the engineers.”