Vasseur feels Hamilton’s signing ‘confirms’ one thing about Ferrari

Hamilton has also registered 78 of his record 104 pole positions for Mercedes, whose engines power every Formula 1 car he has ever driven. But the Stevenage-born star will soon wear red from next year after Hamilton signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari in February.

Lewis Hamilton ‘confirms’ that Ferrari has ‘the right car’ to compete in Formula 1

Enticing Hamilton to activate the release clause in his Mercedes contract, which could have run until 2025, to join Ferrari ‘confirms’ for team boss Vasseur that the Scuderia now has ‘the right car’ to serve as guard at the front of Formula 1 to fight for their next titles continue.

Red Bull and Mercedes have dominated F1 since Ferrari was the last to beat the team and have a driver champion. Kimi Raikkonen remains the last racer to win a drivers’ title with Ferrari, as he denied Hamilton the crown in 2007. Ferrari last won the team title in 2008.

READ MORE: The life of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton outside F1, from wealth to family

Since Ferrari won the Constructors’ Championship in 2008, the Scuderia have come closest to their 17th title in 2012, trailing Red Bull by 60 points. But Hamilton’s impending arrival in Maranello convinces Vasseur that Ferrari is ready to fight for the biggest honours.

Vasseur said at the Festival dello Sport: “(Hamilton) is of course a driver who wants to have guarantees when it comes to performance. This aspect is always his top priority.

“If he has decided to come to Ferrari, that confirms for me that we have the right car. (That is) also the ultimate goal. A driver like Lewis doesn’t just come on holiday with us.

“I believe we are in the right place in terms of performance. We need to take a step forward and I can say that we have devoted a lot of resources to our next project.”

Fernando Alonso’s 2012 near miss is the closest Ferrari has come to a drivers’ title since 2007

Hamilton would likely make himself an instant Ferrari legend if he can become the Scuderia’s first drivers’ champion since Raikkonen and their 16th of all time. If he wins a title for Ferrari, Hamilton will also surpass Michael Schumacher as the only eight-time champion.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari in 2025

Schumacher won five of his seven titles with Ferrari plus two for Benetton, while Hamilton won six with Mercedes, after one with McLaren in 2008. But the closest a Ferrari driver has come to a title since Hamilton beat Felipe Massa by a single point. 2008 was in 2012.

Fernando Alonso finished the 2012 season just three points behind Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel as the German won the third of his four consecutive drivers’ titles. Alonso also finished the 2010 season in second place behind Vettel with four points plus the 2013 season with 155 points.

Vettel also came close to winning a drivers’ title with Ferrari, but was denied by Hamilton with 46 points in 2017 and 88 in 2018. Charles Leclerc was the last Ferrari driver to finish a season second in the championship when he finished behind Max Verstappen stood. with 146 points in 2022.

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