Fred Vasseur claims Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari arrival not just about ‘laptime’

Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari arrival would have a significant impact on Maranello on and off the track.

Fred Vasseur claims Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari arrival not just about ‘laptime’

Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton (Credits: IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton will join Scuderia Ferrari in the coming season, replacing Carlos Sainz from Maranello. The Italian constructor has great expectations from the seven-time world champion. Ferrari believes that Hamilton’s experience will be crucial to Scuderia’s success during the new set of regulations. However, Team Principal Fred Vasseur claimed that the Briton’s arrival wasn’t just about getting the fastest lap time.

Lewis Hamilton‘s Ferrari arrival will be beneficial as the Italian team seems to be much closer to Red Bull than Mercedes. The Italian constructor just needs the right feedback from the drivers to take the team to monumental success. Hence, speaking on Hamilton’s importance at Ferrari, Fred Vasseur reckoned that it wasn’t just about qualification lap time and so on. Rather, the importance was of what information the team collectively took over the race weekend.

The input of Lewis or another driver is not just about qualification lap time and so on, It's the finality of the job. What we all collectively can see Saturday or Sunday, at the end of the day, the job of the driver is much wider.
Fred Vasseur said, as reported by motorsport.com.
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Additionally, starting working on the project six or eight months prior to the season’s beginning was more important. Lewis Hamilton’s experience, his own views on how the team could improve performance and various other factors was crucial. Hence, the 39-year-old will play a major role in at Maranello.

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It's starting sometimes six or eight months before the season, to be able to work on the next project, to bring his own experience, his own view on what we can do, or how we could do it and so on and so on.
Fred Vasseur noted.

Fred Vasseur claims Lewis Hamilton will help Ferrari’s long-term view

Ferrari is going through a phase of rebuilding under Fred Vasseur. Hence, Vasseur highlighted that Scuderia had a ‘young team’ in terms of experience and wins together. The Team Principal reckoned that the team had a lot of time for discussion with Hamilton, and highlighted the importance of long-term view.

I think we are still a young team. It's not just a matter of age, but it's a matter of experience together, and wins together. We have time to discuss this with Lewis and, for me, into the building process of the team - you want to have a long-term view and for the next cycle.
Fred Vasseur added.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton (via IMAGO)

Apart from this, the 55-year-old claimed that Ferrari was already making progress compared to when he just joined the team. Involving the drivers more in the project and build the car around them is something that wasn’t first happening in Ferrari. Hence, when Hamilton arrives, the team will be in an optimal state for the Briton. Finally, the Frenchman declared that the seven-time world champion will surely ‘add value’ to the team.

We made some improvements already I think, compared to 12 months ago, to involve the drivers much earlier into the project and to build up the characteristic of the car with them. I think we are going in the right direction. But for sure Lewis will add value.
Fred Vasseur claimed.

Lewis Hamilton is currently struggling to score good results with Mercedes’ degrading form. Hence, time will tell about how the Ferrari stint serves the 39-year-old. The Scuderia could even challenge Red Bull for the title next year. As such, Hamilton could once again go up against arch-rival Max Verstappen soon.

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