Following Hamilton’s shocking signing with Ferrari to join Charles Leclerc next season, the Formula 1 world has been buzzing with questions. This unexpected move has ignited the longest “Silly Season” in the sport’s history, even though we still have a year to go before witnessing Sir Lewis behind the wheel of a Red car.
Since the confirmation of the deal, the Ferrari team boss has been bombarded with inquiries. However, Vasseur has urged reporters in Bahrain to shift their focus to the upcoming 2024 Grand Prix season and put the Hamilton subject to rest. He stated, “Let’s concentrate fully on the 2024 season and save the Hamilton discussions for when the 2025 season approaches.”
While it’s crucial for us to have clarity about our future, my main concern now lies with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the upcoming year. We cannot ignore the fact that 2023 was a challenging season for us, but it wasn’t an easy ride for anyone except Red Bull Racing.
I understand that if we want to catch up with the leaders, Ferrari will need to take a significant leap forward. However, we can draw encouragement from the substantial progress we made during the 2023 season and use it as a foundation for 2024.
In Formula 1, it all boils down to a simple principle. If you become complacent with your situation, you’re essentially done. Instead, we must approach our work with the mindset of constant improvement, focusing on enhancing our strengths and eliminating weaknesses. There’s no room for complacency.
Regarding the notion that the F1 field has become more tightly packed, Vasseur believes that it may be true for the teams chasing Red Bull Racing. However, this doesn’t make our task any easier.
On a positive note, I’m thrilled to be back on the track. It’s always better to be at the top rather than at the back, but we can’t accurately gauge the fuel loads or engine settings of other teams. What matters most to us is the feedback from Carlos and Charles, and fortunately, they seem content with the car’s performance and drivability. We need to remain calm, trust their input, and focus on development. It’s clear that Red Bull is currently ahead.
The 2024 F1 World Championship kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix next weekend. This race marks Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes after 13 years and Sainz’s last year as a Ferrari driver after four seasons.
As much as Ferrari and Vasseur would like the media to downplay Hamilton’s move to Red, it is unlikely that they will comply. After all, when the greatest team signs one of the F1’s finest drivers and announces it a year in advance, there will always be attention and anticipation surrounding his arrival at 4, Via Abetone Inferiore in Maranello for his first day as a member of the Red team.