Lewis Hamilton talking to Frederic Vasseur — Photo: © IMAGO

Latest F1 News

F1 boss in Hamilton admission ahead of Ferrari switch

Tough call from the Ferrari boss to make

GPFans Staff

Monday 19 February 2024 09:57

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has admitted the phone call to Carlos Sainz announcing Lewis Hamilton would replace him at the team wasn’t easy to make.

In February, Hamilton shocked the F1 world by announcing he would leave Mercedes at the end of 2024 to join Ferrari for 2025 on a multi-year deal.

The seven-time world champion will partner Charles Leclerc, who signed an extension to his current Ferrari deal in January, keeping him at the Maranello-based team beyond 2024.

Article continues under video

Carlos Sainz will be top of many team's shopping lists for 2025

Lewis Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2025

Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari means Carlos Sainz will be a free agent for 2025, but at the time of writing, the Spaniard’s F1 future is still uncertain heading into 2024.

"As you can imagine, it was not the easiest call of my life,” admitted Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. “One of the most difficult, with the one with Toto [Wolff].

"We are sure that he will bring us a decent step for the future and it will be a good challenge for everybody.

“We want to be focused on 2024, and we don't want to have any kind of distraction. It's also why we made the announcement so early because it was important for us to be focused on 2024 for all of the season."

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Carlos Sainz Fred Vasseur

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

'Where the hell?' - Lewis Hamilton stunned by Mercedes pace at Australian Grand Prix

Yesterday 21:57

F1 News Today: Max Verstappen stunned as FIA announce Mercedes penalty decision

3 hours ago

Kim Kardashian at the Australian Grand Prix? Sky F1 star told to stop fishing about Lewis Hamilton 'romance'

Yesterday 17:55

F1 News Today: Newey reveals the shocking truth as FIA announce last-minute U-turn

Yesterday 17:50

F1 Results Today: Russell unleashes TRUE Mercedes pace as Hamilton blown away at Australian GP

Yesterday 04:04

Max Verstappen's shocked reaction revealed after F1 disqualification

Yesterday 21:25

Just in

7-3

F1 News Today: Max Verstappen stunned as FIA announce Mercedes penalty decision

7-3

F1 Results Today: Australian Grand Prix positions and times for 2026 season opener in Melbourne

7-3

'Where the hell?' - Lewis Hamilton stunned by Mercedes pace at Australian Grand Prix

7-3

Max Verstappen's shocked reaction revealed after F1 disqualification

7-3

F1 star Valtteri Bottas is a proper Aussie now: New home, meat pies and doing a 'U-ey'

F1 news

Recommended by the editors

F1’s new cars in 2026 are how much slower? Australian Grand Prix confirms the sad truth

F1 2026