Charles Leclerc (MON) from Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) from Mercedes AMG F1 are seen in the drivers’ parade during the Monaco Grand Prix, Race Day on May 26, 2024. The Formula 1 World Championship, Round 8, took place in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Frederic Vasseur, the head of Ferrari, rejected the idea that Lewis Hamilton’s arrival to the team alongside Charles Leclerc will have a negative impact on their chances of winning the Formula 1 title. Earlier this season, it was announced that Hamilton would join Leclerc, forming an exciting duo. However, some have raised concerns that having two high-level drivers could harm Ferrari’s prospects. Vasseur, on the other hand, believes that the benefits of having both Hamilton and Leclerc outweigh any potential disadvantages. He argues that having two strong drivers will result in more points for the team.
Vasseur draws on Ferrari’s successful period in the early 2000s, when Rubens Barrichello played a supporting role to Michael Schumacher. He also highlights that Red Bull has dominated the past seasons with Max Verstappen, who outperformed his teammate Sergio Perez. Despite these examples, Vasseur is confident that Hamilton and Leclerc will not take points away from each other. He sees their partnership as a positive move for the team’s performance. Vasseur emphasizes the healthy competition between Carlos Sainz and Leclerc, which drives them to achieve better results. He believes that having two strong drivers is more advantageous than having one and a half.
Vasseur also praises Sainz for maintaining his level of performance even knowing that his contract will not be renewed. He describes Sainz as a fully committed professional to the team. Vasseur is pleased with Sainz’s approach and expects him to continue performing at a high level until the end of the 2024 season.
