“We are always in contact” - Vasseur lifts the lid on Hamilton-Ferrari talks

Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has played down the significance of his conversations with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Connor McDonagh

19 Dec 2023

(L to R): Frederic Vasseur (FRA) Ferrari Team Principal and Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 on the grid. Formula 1 — (L to R): Frederic Vasseur (FRA) Ferrari Team Principal and Lewis Hamilton…

Before signing his latest contract extension with Mercedes, Hamilton was linked with a bumper $40 million move to Ferrari.

The pair worked together during Hamilton’s GP2 Series title-winning campaign in 2006 at ART Grand Prix.

Vasseur believes any casual conversation with Hamilton was overplayed.

"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 said.

"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!"

Ferrari are expected to retain Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for 2025, with Vasseur hoping new deals are agreed before Bahrain in March.

"It could be the target [that new deals are agreed with both] before race one," he added.