When Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc team up at Ferrari the next year, Fred Vasseur does not anticipate that they will be best friends, and he will forbid them from taking vacations together. The five-time Grand Prix winner will be a far more formidable opponent for the seven-time world champion, who has had cordial relationships with his past two teammates.
With Hamilton dominating the intra-team battle with Valtteri Bottas and putting in some excellent performances in comparison to George Russell, supporters are expecting a close-fought match when he faces Leclerc, one of the strongest qualifiers in Formula One.
One person who will be hoping that this rivalry doesn’t explode and create a terrible workplace at Maranello is Vasseur. This has happened to Hamilton before, with both Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg, and in both cases, one driver chose to leave the race.
In an interview with La Repubblica, Vasseur discussed his drivers for 2025 and stated, “I don’t ask my colleagues to work better; I don’t ask my drivers to be best friends or go on vacation together.”
“I believe there is already established between them that they should have an open and respectful relationship; I don’t see any clouds in the sky. In the previous two months, they have already begun to get a little closer; this is a honeymoon-like training phase. So far, so nice, I would say.
As they get ready to join forces in 2025, Hamilton and Leclerc are in intriguing positions. The former fought for victories and World Championships for the most of his illustrious Formula One career, but Mercedes’ ongoing problems have led to his worst campaign start to date.
Meanwhile, a resurgent Carlos Sainz has put Leclerc’s domination under threat. The Spaniard was cut to make place for Hamilton, but he has returned with a vengeance and, after missing the second race of the season in Saudi Arabia, is only 15 points behind his teammate.
Vasseur is hoping that Hamilton’s move to Maranello will invigorate the team as a whole. He said, “Fresh blood in the system,” when asked what the illustrious Brit would provide. “I’m aware of Lewis’ professionalism—not that our drivers lack it—but we can gain from his alternative perspective.
“Fernando Alonso is among the most accomplished, successful, and experienced drivers on the grid. He has won the most titles and has the most field experience. He will undoubtedly increase the track’s speed, but he won’t stop there. In addition, he will share his expertise in weekend planning from outside the vehicle.
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