Ferrari F1 News: Team Principal Sternly Rejects Lewis Hamilton Question In Japan

Saajan Jogia | Apr 9, 2024

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur / Ferrari Press Image

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has adopted a similar approach to Lewis Hamilton when dealing with reporters, who ask questions related to the seven-time world champion's Ferrari entry in 2025. The Ferrari boss rejected a question from a journalist in Japan even before it could be finished, thereby suggesting that he won't entertain them until the time arrives in 2025.

Key Takeaways:

• Ferrari's Fred Vasseur, mirroring Lewis Hamilton's approach, deflects inquiries about the latter's move to Ferrari until 2025.
• Hamilton, uninterested after a poor Japanese Grand Prix finish, responds curtly to questions about joining Ferrari for speed.
• Amid Hamilton's final season struggles at Mercedes, Sainz shines for Ferrari, prompting doubts about the decision to replace him with Hamilton.

Hamilton showed disinterest in discussing his future move to Ferrari after a disappointing P9 finish at the Japanese Grand Prix. When asked whether he was looking forward to being with Ferrari because they're faster, he offered a brutal response to the reporter through a counter question, asking: “Do you have any better questions?"

In his final season with Mercedes, Hamilton aims to conclude the 11-year collaboration with a remarkable performance. Yet, the promised 'entirely new' W15 F1 car has fallen short of expectations. His highest achievement this season has been a seventh-place finish in Bahrain, leaving room for improvement as the season progresses.

Nov 18, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Lewis Hamilton of / Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

However, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who Hamilton replaces next year, has been delivering stellar performances since the opening race of the season. Barring the Saudi Arabian GP, where he underwent surgery for appendicitis, Sainz delivered podium finishes in two races and a victory for Ferrari in Australia.

The Spaniard's performance draws a stark contrast to Hamilton's, prompting many to wonder if Ferrari made the right decision in letting him go for Hamilton in the future. However, the British driver's drop in performance is mostly attributed to Mercedes being unable to hand him a fast car. In Japan, Vasseur was confronted with a similar question, prompting him to deliver a firm response to the reporter.

When questioned about a hypothetical situation where he hadn't signed Lewis Hamilton for 2025, Vasseur promptly interjected, ensuring the conversation didn't delve into speculative territory. He said:

“We have the same question each weekend.

“Do a copy paste of my reply of last week, next one.”

With 20 Grands Prix left to go for the conclusion of the 2024 season, it remains to be seen if Mercedes can solve the 'fundamental problem' on the W15 through upgrades to compete at the front.