Hamilton to Ferrari? That would cost a fortune, says Vasseur. Italian team boss downplays huge speculation from Baku

How realistic does the Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari connection sound to you? They don’t go together too well, do they? Frédéric Vasseur, the Italian team boss, made a similar point. He did confirm that although he did speak to Hamilton in Baku, it certainly wasn’t a very relevant conversation with regards to the Mercedes transfer.

Current Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton are very close. Indeed, the 55-year-old boss managed the seven-time champion as a junior driver for the ART team back in 2006 when he won the GP2 title.

At the same time, the boss of the Italian Maranello stable recently confirmed that he had indeed spoken to Hamilton in Baku about a potential Ferrari deal. And for a simple reason. The 38-year-old’s future at Mercedes was reportedly questionable at the time.

While the Italian media spoke of more advanced negotiations, well-known Formula 1 figures tried to tame expectations. And quite understandably so, as Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari would simply not make sense in many ways.

The reasons are simple. Hamilton has previously stated that he wants to continue to work with Mercedes after his active career as an F1 driver, for example as an ambassador. We must also not forget that Hamilton has long-standing support from the German team and a strong position within its projects.

The team’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity is reflected in the Ignite and Accelerate 25 initiatives, as well as the fact that the Silver Arrows currently race in predominantly black livery.

Hamilton to Ferrari? It would cost a fortune, jokes Vasseur

“I’ve spoken to Lewis every week or every month for 20 years, so I can’t say I haven’t spoken to him at some stage because we’re still in contact,” said Fred Vasseur in an interview with Racing News 365.

“It’s true because in the past half of the starting field rode for me. I spoke to Lewis in the paddock in Baku and then it spread everywhere. Anyway, if he had signed me every time we spoke in the past, it would have cost me a fortune!” the Ferrari boss added jokingly.

In any case, Ferrari is now aiming to extend the contracts of both its drivers, as the Frenchman Vasseur has intimated. The Maranello-based team wants to have these issues with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz resolved before the start of the first grand prix of the 2024 season.

Source: F1, Racing News 365