15 years ago, Michael Schumacher returned to F1 with Mercedes, having last driven for Ferrari in 2006. This year, another seven-time world champion is shifting teams. Even as Lewis Hamilton gears up for his Ferrari debut, journalist Mark Hughes has predicted a ‘team culture’ conundrum for the Briton that Schumacher had also faced during his second coming to the sport.
Hamilton will take time getting used to the culture at Ferrari, said Hughes while narrating the Red Baron’s experience in 2010.
“I interviewed Michael Schumacher at the end of his Mercedes spell,” Hughes revealed on The Race F1 podcast.
“And one of the things he said was how coming from Ferrari it took him over a year at Mercedes to get fully familiar with what levers to pull to get what he needed. So, I imagine it’ll be much the same the other way around,” he added.
However, things could be more daunting for Hamilton. Schumacher, after all, had joined a quasi-German outfit. He also had more experience racing for different teams than Hamilton, who has only been with UK-based teams.
Still, the Ferrari legend struggled to integrate himself with the Silver Arrows. That shows the task up ahead of the #44 driver.
Many have already spoken about how the Maranello outfit’s culture and work ethic are vastly different from all other teams that are based out of the UK. And none of Hamilton’s associates from Mercedes, including his trusted race engineer Peter Bonnington, will accompany him to Ferrari.
The Briton will have to build working dynamics with engineers, mechanics, and the senior leaders at Ferrari from scratch. That said, Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur, has a long-standing relationship with Hamilton. And the Frenchman is already waiting to welcome and help Hamilton settle in smoothly.
Vasseur could make Hamilton’s Ferrari move a success
One of the biggest hurdles that Hamilton will face in his new chapter with Ferrari is getting in sync with the team. He will have to embrace the Italian language and culture and also ensure that he endears himself to the Tifosi.
Being an Englishman, this might seem like a tall order for the 40-year-old. However, he has his former boss, Vasseur, to guide him through the process. That will surely come as a welcome relief for the seven-time world champion.
Vasseur and Hamilton go a long way back. It was under the Frenchman’s tutelage that a young Hamilton won the GP2 (now F2) title in his rookie year in 2006. This led to McLaren signing him on for a full-time F1 seat the very next year. So, Hamilton essentially owes his entire F1 career to the Ferrari boss.
Vasseur will surely help Lewis assimilate into the team. And he would expect the British ace to return the favor on the track. For the Frenchman, Hamilton’s push for that elusive eighth title will be enough as he himself hopes to break the Scuderia’s 17-year-long title drought.
