Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has taken aim at his predecessor over comments made about his signing of Lewis Hamilton. Mattia Binotto, who was Ferrari chief between 2019 and 2022, insists he would never have signed the seven-time world champion from Mercedes.
Hamilton will switch Mercedes for Ferrari in a highly-anticipated move ahead of the 2025 season. However, Binotto, who is now in charge at Sauber, is unsure how the Scuderia outfit will manage the relationship between two big-name drivers in Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
“I wouldn’t have signed Hamilton. However, he did very well to accept. I agree with his decision to join Ferrari,” the 55-year-old told Corriere della Sera.
“Ferrari had already bet on another driver like Leclerc. If Charles is the talent, then it’s right for him to be the one guided towards winning the title.”
Vasseur brutally told Binotto that Hamilton would not even consider joining Sauber. The Frenchman insists he is focused on his own role rather than commenting on other teams.
“And I’m not sure that Hamilton would have gone to Sauber,” Vasseur bluntly told La Stampa. “I am happy that so many people have time to comment on our choices, I am focused on our work.
“After all, when I was at Sauber I didn’t talk about Ferrari.”
Hamilton bid farewell to Mercedes after a couple of tough seasons, experiencing inconsistency and performance issues in several Silver Arrows vehicles. He finished on a high by placing fourth in the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“It has been probably the longest year of my life, knowing from the beginning I was leaving,” Hamilton reflected afterwards.
“It’s like a relationship that you’ve told whoever the counterpart is you’re leaving but you’re living together for a year. Lots of ups and downs but we finished on a high today. Each moment I have known it was one of the last and it has been really clear and really hard to let go.
“When I stopped the car. I wanted to embrace the moment. Representing Mercedes has been the greatest moment of my life. Just giving thanks, my own spirit for not giving up, everyone the power to have built that car. I am proud of everyone.
“We’ve definitely had ups and downs but what’s come through is there has been real love. The board members who have stood by and supported me all these years, who were upset at the beginning, but today were saying you will always be part of the family. It just shows there is a lot of love between us.”
