Hamilton Confirms He Wouldn't Have Gone To Ferrari Without Team Principal Vasseur

In an interview during a press conference at pre-season testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton confirmed how big of a role a Ferrari team principal played in his decision to join the team.

The decision of the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari after 12 years of driving for Mercedes shocked everyone in the paddock.

The president of the Italian team, John Elkann, was said to play an important role in convincing the 39-year-old. But, it was also suggested that the team principal, Fred Vasseur, was essential in making it happen. Hamilton told the media at Bahrain International Circuit:

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Lewis Hamilton is one of few drivers who were able to win both Formula 3 and GP2 (now known as F2) in two consecutive seasons, and he did it with the help of Vasseur, who was then the principal of ASM and ART Grand Prix teams.

The Frenchman became the team principal of Alfa Romeo on 12 July 2017 and was promoted to Ferrari after Mattia Binotto resigned from his position after the end of the 2022 season.

The team principal and the seven-time World Champion remained in close contact over the years, and Hamilton now admitted his move to Ferrari probably wouldn't have happened without Vasseur. He added:

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