Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG F1, and Charles Leclerc, the driver for Ferrari, were seen in the qualifying parc ferme during the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6, 2024. Ferrari’s Formula 1 team boss, Frederic Vasseur, believes that the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2025 will have a positive impact on Charles Leclerc’s development as a driver. Ferrari made the announcement before the current season began, revealing that they had negotiated a deal to bring Hamilton to the team after he activated an exit clause in his Mercedes contract. This future acquisition will result in Carlos Sainz leaving the team, as Leclerc had already signed a long-term contract prior to this unexpected news. Sainz, despite the announcement, has had a successful start to the season with three podium finishes, including a win in Australia. On the other hand, Hamilton has had a difficult start to the season, earning only 10 points and currently sitting in ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship. However, Vasseur has no regrets about signing Hamilton, as he has worked with him in the past and believes he is an excellent mentor for Leclerc. Vasseur stated that Hamilton’s arrival brings not only speed, but also serenity, experience, and a track record of victories, which are all valuable for Ferrari’s progress. He also expressed his confidence that Hamilton and Leclerc will have a good relationship and that Hamilton’s expertise will benefit Leclerc as a driver. These comments from Vasseur align with the assessment of Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 F1 World Champion, who believes that Leclerc is facing a crucial period competing against Hamilton. Villeneuve emphasized that Leclerc was brought into Ferrari with high expectations, but he still has much to prove. While Leclerc has shown great speed, he was not the one who won races for Ferrari last year. Villeneuve sees this upcoming period as a make or break moment for Leclerc, rather than for Hamilton.
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