Ferrari boss points out the “main difference” between Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the F1 grid

Lewis Hamilton (foreground), and Fred Vasseur (circle). Credit: Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton (foreground), and Fred Vasseur (inset). Credit: Getty Images

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur touched upon the standout factor within Lewis Hamilton that sets him apart from the rest of the grid. In an interview with The Times on October 14, the Prancing Horse honcho claimed that Hamilton is "organized like a company," something that would help the team work well with the British driver next season.

Lewis Hamilton is all set to jump ship to Ferrari after he agreed on a multi-year deal with the Prancing Horse. He will join co-driver Charles Leclerc, and boss Fred Vasseur, with whom he has a history of working together.

Hamilton and Vasseur worked together during the former's GP2 days. He took a promotion from F3 and joined ART Grand Prix, ASM's sister team, in 2006. It was around this time when Vasseur, who co-founded the team along with Nicholas Todt, was the team principal of the ART Grand Prix.

Hamilton won the GP2 Championship that season under the guidance of Vasseur, and as they spent the year together, they built up an amicable relationship. In doing so, Vasseur became very close to Hamilton and understood the type of driver the latter was.

Talking about the differentiating factor between Hamilton and other drivers, Fred Vasseur said:

"Lewis is a machine. The main difference between Lewis and the majority of the grid – and I don’t want to make a personal comparison – is that he is organized like a company," he said.
“In his mind, in his approach, he knows what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. He’s able to separate every single pillar of the activity and for us, for Ferrari, it will be helpful. Internally, it won’t change life except that Lewis is coming with his own experience, his own maturity," Vasseur added.

Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes at the end of this season means he would leave the Silver Arrows after 12 long years. At Mercedes, he won six out of his seven F1 titles, and it still is the most successful driver and team combination in F1.


Mercedes boss expects Lewis Hamilton to have a smooth switch to Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton of the Mercedes AMG F1 Team W15 at the F1 Grand Prix Of Singapore - Source: Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton of the Mercedes AMG F1 Team W15 at the F1 Grand Prix Of Singapore - Source: Getty Images

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton can expect a seamless transition to Ferrari at the end of 2024. Hamilton's decision to leave Brackley earlier this year shocked the entire F1 fraternity, including Wolff, but with time things have settled down, and the Austrian boss hopes Hamilton does not expect any sort of difficulties while making the switch. Wolff said (as quoted by Motorsport):

“I think many people say that it’s going to be really difficult. But I think if you say it’s going to be really difficult, then often it’s the opposite," Wolff told Autosport. “Ferrari is a great team, great people, lots of emotion and passion and therefore it’s pressure. But I believe they are going to find a way of working with each other."

Lewis Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 when he replaced retirement-bound Michael Schumacher and joined Nico Rosberg. He arrived from McLaren after a fairly successful stint where he won his first F1 title.

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Edited by Shirsh