Lewis Hamilton given 'essential' requirement by Ferrari bosss ahead of Mercedes departure
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Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has told Lewis Hamilton that maintaining a good relationship with Charles Leclerc next year is 'essential'.
The seven-time world champion is making the biggest move of his career in 2025 when he leaves Mercedes for Ferrari.
It's a move into the unknown for Hamilton, who's career has been spent with a team based in England.
Driving for Ferrari in F1 is seen as the pinnacle for the greats of the sport with the likes of Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and Kimi Raikkonen among the former champions to race in the famous red car.
Charles Leclerc will be Lewis Hamilton's new team-matePAHamilton will have to start from scratch when he makes the switch to Ferrari and won't be joined by his long-term race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington.
Vasseur feels Hamilton and Ferrari will be a match made in heaven and the British racing superstar is there to win.
He told Gazzetta: “Ferrari in some ways was always in his thoughts and now the stars have aligned.
“But he comes to win, not on holiday.
“And I'm convinced that we have everything to try.”
But Vasseur has also pointed out the importance of a strong team dynamic, insisting Hamilton will need to get along with Leclerc throughout their time together.
"I think it's essential to have a good relationship, not just to talk about understeer or anything else," he added.
“But this is a passion and being balanced and having a good environment surrounding you is crucial to have good results.
Fred Vasseur wants Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to work together
PA“And I believe that Charles has this. Just as I believe that the competition between the drivers helps to grow the team. And the competition between Carlos Sainz and Charles is enormous in this sense."
Vasseur insists there is an open dialogue at Ferrari between the drivers and himself and praised Leclerc for embracing the culture.
"He has never been arrogant, but someone who always works hard," Vasseur added.
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REUTERS“Sometimes he has even made mistakes, but it is part of his growth process.
"We haven't yet agreed on the day we met, he says a date but I wasn't there that day.
“Ours is a special relationship, if I make a mistake he just look at me and I know what he wants say.”
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