Vasseur: No Early Request for Hamilton's Ferrari Move

Vasseur clarifies Ferrari made no request for Hamilton’s early release, while Wolff confirms no talks occurred about 2024 availability.

Fred Vasseur confirmed in Las Vegas that Lewis Hamilton will not drive for Ferrari before 2025, but he also revealed that he had not asked Toto Wolff, his Mercedes F1 counterpart, for an early release.

“I think Lewis’s first test with us will be in 2025.”

Is he disappointed that Hamilton will not be available for the post-Abu Dhabi tests, considering Ferrari has allowed Carlos Sainz to join Williams for their test?

“That’s a question for Toto. The story with Carlos is that I want to thank him for his collaboration. I don’t want to block him or anything. I think he has done a very good job with us this season and acted very professionally. It would have been easy for him to… not give up, but not show such professionalism. For me, the best way to thank Carlos was to give him the opportunity to take part in the test with Williams.”

“And with Lewis, no, there’s no disappointment. They have a contract. They have a contract, so I didn’t even ask Toto to do anything.”

Wolff, sitting alongside him, confirmed.

“Fred didn’t ask for anything. I think it’s also a different matter when you go to Williams. But we have contractual agreements with sponsors. We are organizing a farewell for Lewis. There are many planned activities. Lewis and I talked briefly, and he said, ‘I guess it won’t work.’ And I said, ‘Yes, I don’t think it will.’ And that was it. I don’t think Fred is particularly upset.”

“No, I’m not!” Vasseur concluded. “There’s a contract, and we have to respect it. And just because we are doing something for Carlos doesn’t mean everyone else has to do the same. As Toto said, I didn’t ask.”