Vasseur: Hamilton arrival another step in right direction

We at GrandPrix247 labeled Hamilton's announcement as a Ferrari driver from 2025 onwards as the "News of the Year" in 2024, as the move has sent shockwaves within the sport following years of speculation about whether the Briton will ever put on the Red racing suit.

However, Lewis is now on his way to Ferrari, a move that is highly anticipated for many reasons. Will he clinch that elusive eighth title with the Reds and consequently end their title drought?

How will he get along with Ferrari's chosen one, aka Charles Leclerc? Will Hamilton, who is now 40 years old, outpace his younger and blindingly fast teammate?

While many questions surround Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari, there is one thing Vasseur is confident of, and that is that the collaboration is the right decision for both parties.

Speaking to Formula 1's official website, Vasseur said: "[Hamilton’s arrival] will be a step into the construction of the team or development of the team.

"He’s coming with his own experience, his own background and this will be helpful for the development of the team. It will be helpful for Charles and it will be helpful for the engineers – and we have to take it as another step going in the right direction. It’s positive for us," he explained.

And while Hamilton's struggles at Mercedes since the start of the current F1 rules and especially in 2024 have cast doubt about Ferrari's decision to sign him, Vasseur is relaxed about the matter.

He said: "He had very good races in Vegas, in Abu Dhabi [in 2024] and I was never, really, never, never, never worried about the situation.

"I'm really convinced that it was the situation, and I don't want to blame Lewis or Mercedes, but this situation, it's not easy to manage and I can understand that if it's not going very well, you can suffer [in] this relationship.

“[All] was not very well in his mind – he was clear in Brazil about this, for example – but he also did very, very well on the last couple of events. I'm not worried at all," the Frenchman insisted.

Vasseur admitted Hamilton has a short time to get settled within the team since Mercedes refused to release him following the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix but insists Hamilton's experience will make the difference.

He explained: "We will have a couple of test days with TPC [the Testing of Previous Cars’ Programme, which will be runs in a two-year-old Ferrari] and Pirelli [Ferrari are due to test for Pirelli at France’s Magny-Cours circuit in late January] before Bahrain.

“It’s a very short period. At the end of the day, you have launch of the car on Feb 19th – and then we are going directly to Bahrain for the first test, and to Melbourne [for the season opening Australian Grand Prix].

"It means this will be a rush, but I’m not worried at all. He’s coming with experience of this. He did almost 20 seasons in F1 – and he will manage perfectly this period," he maintained.

Ferrari missed out on the 2024 F1 constructors' championship to McLaren by 14 points but have shown great form in the second part of the previous season.

“Yes," Vasseur responded asked if the championship challenge is possible in 2025. "It’s the next step. We did P3, P2 – we are going in this direction. We are doing good steps on the team side, on the car side.

"Everything is going in this direction. Now I’m convinced it won’t be easy. McLaren is doing a mega job. I’m sure Mercedes and Red Bull will push to come back and it will be a good fight on track next year with at least four teams. It won’t be easy but I think we are putting everything together to be able to do it.

"He will be part of this package," he said of the role Hamilton will play. "I know him very well on the determination and the focus and it will be a good step forward."