Ferrari team principal addressed
Lewis Hamilton contract talk rumors amid negotiations with
Carlos Sainz and
Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton's contract was expiring at the end of the season 2023, and when it was time for negotiation talks with
Mercedes, it took longer than originally expected for the seven-time World Champion to sign the contract.
While he has, in the end, agreed to sign a two-year extension with Silver Arrows, Hamilton has been rumored to be in talks over potential contracts both with Ferrari and
Red Bull Racing.
Vasseur recently addressed the old rumors, saying he is quite often in contact with Lewis Hamilton, whom he worked with during his junior years at the Art Grand Prix team in GP2.
"I'm talking with Lewis each week or each month for 20 years, so I can't say that I didn't speak with Lewis at one stage, as we are always in contact."
Vasseur has a long history with many of the drivers on the grid, as he used to work with them in Junior teams or
Alfa Romeo before he came to Ferrari. The team principal joked it would cost him a fortune if he gave Hamilton a contract every time they talked together.
"It's true because half of the grid drove for me in the past, and in Baku, I had a discussion with Lewis in the paddock, and it started to go everywhere, but if he signed a contract with me each time that we spoke in the past, it would cost me a fortune!:
The team principal also gave an update on the contract negotiations with his current drivers, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
He lately mentioned Ferrari is in no rush.
However, he not added having everything sorted before the start of next season would be nice: "It could be the target [that new deals are agreed with both] before race one."