Hamilton’s surprise announcement that he will be leaving Mercedes and joining the Scuderia in 2025 has brought new life to the stagnant driver market in Formula 1. Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledges the initial excitement surrounding Hamilton’s arrival but stresses the importance of focusing on the upcoming season rather than getting caught up in future plans. There are doubts about Ferrari’s ability to produce a competitive car that can challenge for championships, especially as Hamilton aims for his historic eighth Drivers’ Championship. However, Vasseur believes it is crucial to address the current issues and concentrate on 2024 before thinking about 2025.
Ferrari had a difficult start to the 2023 season due to reliability problems, which cost them valuable points. Charles Leclerc failed to finish two of the first three races. However, their performance improved as the season progressed, with both Leclerc and Carlos Sainz achieving podium finishes. Sainz even secured the team’s only victory of the season at the Singapore Grand Prix. Vasseur wants to carry this momentum into the current year and close the gap to Red Bull.
Vasseur acknowledges that last year was challenging for all teams except Red Bull. He recognizes the significant task ahead for Ferrari but is optimistic about the progress they made towards the end of the 2023 season. Building on that progress is their main focus for the 2024 season. With stable regulations, this year provides an opportunity for teams to catch up and make up ground on the competition.
When asked about the possibility of the field converging with Red Bull, Vasseur is uncertain but believes that all the other teams will come closer together under the same regulations. He predicts a convergence of performance over the next five years.