Ferrari Boss Dismisses Concerns Over Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s Formula 1 Partnership
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has rubbished claims that the arrival of Lewis Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc could hinder the Italian marque’s Formula 1 title chances. The blockbuster pairing, announced before the start of the 2024 season, is set to be a thrilling combination for fans to witness.
“I don’t think so, because I think you have a kind of mutual benefit into the team, and we are getting probably more points with two drivers than with one and a half,” Vasseur told Autosport.
Vasseur disagrees with the concerns, citing the mutual benefits of having two strong drivers pushing each other to perform at their best.
The Success of the Current Driver Pairing
The Ferrari boss pointed to the success of the team’s current driver pairing, with Carlos Sainz pushing Leclerc to improve his performance.
“As soon as one is a step down, the other one is there to get results and he is waking up the first one. It’s like this if you have a look from the beginning of last year,” Vasseur explained.
Confidence in the New Pairing
When asked about the potential for Hamilton and Leclerc to take points from each other, Vasseur remained confident that having two strong drivers would ultimately yield more points for the team.
“I am really convinced that I prefer having two strong ones than not. For sure, you can imagine the fact that you have two drivers and a potential of points for the team you are speaking about two. But I am sure that the potential of points for the team with two good drivers is much higher than with one and a half. That’s my view.”
Praise for Carlos Sainz‘s Professionalism
Vasseur also praised Sainz‘s professionalism, despite knowing that his contract wouldn’t be extended beyond the 2024 season.
“He knows the situation; he knows that we will split at the end of the season. He is a professional one. The first reaction in February was ‘okay Fred, it’s a tough decision, but let’s push until the last corner of the last lap of the season.’ He is a mega professional, fully committed and he is doing a great job. I am convinced that it will stay like this until the end of 2024.”
As the 2024 Formula 1 season unfolds, all eyes will be on Ferrari’s new driver pairing and their bid for championship glory. With Vasseur’s confidence in Hamilton and Leclerc‘s ability to work together, the Italian marque is poised to make a strong push for the title.
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