Lewis Hamilton has said his signing for Ferrari “would not have happened” without his relationship with team principal Fred Wasser.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton already races in the junior category for Vasseur, who has enjoyed great success in F3 and GP2 under Vasseur's tutelage. [now F2] On the way to the grid.
The two stayed in touch throughout his F1 years, and although he has now been promoted to team principal at Ferrari, their already established connection was a key factor in his decision to move to the Scuderia.
Lewis Hamilton evokes Fred Vassere's links in moving Ferrari
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
Hamilton's move to Ferrari is widely reported to be the result of a major push by Ferrari chairman John Elkann to bring him to the team, but another factor in his favor is , which he had a long-standing relationship with Wasser.
Hamilton, who raced alongside Vasseur earlier in his career, will team up with Vasseur again at the Scuderia from 2025, but will be driving in F1 without Mercedes power for the first time. His influence was key.
“I have a great relationship with Fred,” Hamilton told media outlets including Bahrain's planetf1.com.
“Obviously, I raced with him in Formula 3, and we had incredible success in Formula 3 and GP2 as well.
“That's really where the foundation of our relationship started and we always stayed in touch.
“I thought he would one day become a great team manager and go into F1, but at the time I wasn't interested in that.
“And it was really cool to see him step into the Alfa team, and then when he got the job at Ferrari, I was so happy for him and the stars just aligned. I think so.”
“It really wouldn't have happened without him, so I'm really grateful and really excited about the work he's doing there.”
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To explain the circumstances surrounding this move in more detail, Hamilton signed a new contract extension with Mercedes last summer, but is expected to leave at the end of the season to join Ferrari.
Although he spoke of pride in his long association with the Silver Arrows, he feels a “new chapter” is ready to come next season.
“Of course I signed in the summer and of course I was thinking about my future at Mercedes at the time, but the opportunity came at the start of the year and I decided to take it,” Hamilton revealed.
“Obviously, I think it was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I've been with Mercedes and I think it's been 26 years that they've supported me. We have had an absolutely incredible journey together.
“We created history within the sport, and that's something I take a lot of pride in,” [I’m] I'm very proud of what we've achieved.
“But ultimately, I think I'm writing my own story. I felt this was the time to start a new chapter.”
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