Lewis Hamilton made the announcement that he would move to Ferrari in 2025 even before the 2024 season had started. Since then, he had a roller coaster of a campaign with Mercedes.
His struggles this year notwithstanding, Hamilton’s six world championships speak volumes about how groundbreaking his stint was at Mercedes. In over a decade with the Silver Arrows, the Briton also helped the team take home eight constructors’ crowns.
The trophy cabinet indeed points at how Mercedes had been ‘the team of Hamilton’s life’. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, however, disagrees.
“The team of his life? We will judge it in two years, thank you,” laughed off Vasseur after the Abu Dhabi GP. “It didn’t always go well. He is someone quite sensitive who needs to be surrounded, supported, loved he could have had the feeling that it was not always the case this season.”
| Fred Vasseur asked about Lewis Hamilton leaving “the team of his life” :
“The team of his life? We will judge it in 2 years, thank you (laughing). It didn’t always go well, he is someone quite sensitive who needs to be surrounded, supported, loved he could have had the…
— sim (@sim3744) December 8, 2024
The struggles Hamilton endured through this season lends legitimacy to Vasseur’s comment.
The year began on an underwhelming note for the Briton before an upsurge in performance saw him bag two wins. Things then went back to the struggling ways and remained so till the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where he fought through the grid for a top-4 finish.
After being out-qualified by his teammate George Russell for most part of the season, the seven-time champion had started putting up a dejected front in his media interactions. At one point, Hamilton even admitted to giving up, saying he had tried everything he could.
That led to rumors of ‘Russell bias’ at Mercedes. With Hamilton nearing his exit, many believed he was kept out of key meetings. Then again, Mercedes favoring the driver who will stay with them for years to come was a practical thing to do, keeping the team’s future in mind.
However, irrespective of why Hamilton struggled in his last season with Mercedes, Ferrari do not seem worried.
Vasseur confident Hamilton will turn his fortunes at Ferrari
Vasseur can already see signs of Hamilton rediscovering his peak form after his sensational performance in Abu Dhabi. Despite starting the race in P16, Hamilton drove remarkably well to finish P4, ahead of Russell, who started in P6.
“After, I think when he smelled the blood or at least the smell of Russell in front today he put everything back and he showed that he is quick. I was never worried, I know what he has in mind, I think for us it will be an added value in addition,” Vasseur added.
Hamilton will not drive for Ferrari in the post-season testing in Abu Dhabi. The Italian team failed to come to an agreement with Mercedes on that front. Intriguingly, the Ferrari had released their outgoing driver Carlos Sainz prematurely so that he can fulfil those duties at Williams.
