Hamilton, who is 39 years old, holds the impressive record of 103 victories, making him the most successful driver in the sport. Ferrari, the oldest and most glamorous team, have also been the most successful, although they haven’t won an F1 championship since 2008.
Speaking about the announcement made on 1 February, Vasseur, at the launch of Ferrari’s new car, expressed his thoughts on the matter. He emphasized that it not only presented a significant opportunity for the team but also eliminated a potential distraction during the driver ‘silly season’.
“It’s undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity for the team,” he stated. “We are confident that he will bring us a substantial progression for the future, and it will be a rewarding challenge for everyone involved.”
Vasseur, who has had a close relationship with Hamilton since the British driver competed in junior series under him, revealed that Ferrari’s focus was on the year 2024. This is one of the reasons why the announcement was made so early.
Hamilton will be taking the place of Carlos Sainz in the team, and Vasseur expressed his belief that the Spaniard would remain fully committed until the very last lap of the season.
While informing Sainz about the decision was difficult, Vasseur admitted that the toughest call was to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who is an old friend.
“As you can imagine, it was not an easy conversation,” he said regarding the discussion with Sainz. “But one of the most challenging calls was the one with Toto.” (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
According to the Source grandprix247.com