Lewis Hamilton F1 News: Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur delivers driver replacement statement

Ferrari

Ferrari F1 chief delivers Hamilton replacement statement

Lewis Hamilton heads into his first F1 season as a Ferrari driver

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 29 January 2025 20:58

Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur has issued a statement regarding Lewis Hamilton’s replacement of Carlos Sainz at the Formula 1 team.

The announcement that Hamilton had signed for Ferrari in 2024 shocked not only the F1 paddock and audience but also the team's former driver Carlos Sainz.

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton in Ferrari CRASH as star issues statement over nightmare debut

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Sainz, who had raced with the team since 2021, was displaced in favour of the champion and Charles Leclerc, and was faced with a search for alternative options for 2025.

Despite initial links to Red Bull and Mercedes, Sainz eventually opted for a seat at Williams, with the Spaniard making his debut at their base in Grove last week.

Carlos Sainz is now officially a Williams driver

Lewis Hamilton re-joins old boss Fred Vasseur

The official Ferrari site are currently running a sale with up to 30 per cent off their existing F1 merchandise ahead of Hamilton’s arrival.

Could Sainz return to Ferrari?

While the decision to axe Sainz from Ferrari was brutal, the 30-year-old has remained respectful regarding his former team, and produced two stunning race victories in Australia and Mexico during his final season with the Scuderia.

Sainz has also been praised by his former boss and team principal, Fred Vasseur, who recently issued a statement over the quality performances that Sainz delivered at Ferrari, wishing him the best for his future at Williams.

"Carlos is always at 100 per cent and is very consistent," Vasseur told DAZN.

"This has been a great advantage for us, because when he was not in the top positions it meant that the car was not doing well either. For us it has been very useful for the development of the car."

"Carlos is going to do a great job with Williams. I wish him and James Vowles the best. I know them both very well and I'm sure they will have a great relationship."