Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur jokes about costly conversations with Lewis Hamilton amidst driver talks

Reflecting on their long-standing relationship, Vasseur quipped that if he had signed a contract with Hamilton every time they spoke, it would have "cost me a fortune."

The connection between Vasseur and Hamilton dates back to 2006 when the British driver secured the GP2 title under Vasseur's ART squad. Amidst uncertainties about Hamilton's Mercedes future, Vasseur confirmed engaging in discussions with the racing icon during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

However, in a surprising turn of events at the Italian Grand Prix in August, Hamilton inked a new two-year deal with Mercedes, extending his tenure until the age of 41. This development seemingly closed the door on long-standing rumours linking Hamilton to a potential move to Ferrari.

Addressing the ongoing contract talks within the Ferrari camp, Vasseur provided an update on current drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. He hinted at the possibility of finalizing new deals for both drivers before the start of the upcoming season.

"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 shared with the media. 

"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!"

Vasseur also weighed in on the broader F1 landscape, expressing that any team would be pleased to welcome the reigning triple World Champion, Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, he left fans in suspense with a cryptic update on the contract negotiations with Leclerc and Sainz.

As the 2023 F1 season concludes, teams and drivers are set to take a break until the new year, with the anticipation building for the 2024 season's kickoff. Official F1 pre-season testing is scheduled to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir from February 23 to 25, providing a glimpse of what's to come in the next thrilling chapter of Formula 1.

 

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