COMPETITION SET TO STRENGTHEN FERRARI

Vasseur says Hamilton and Leclerc will push each other and lift team to greater heights

- REUTERS

MARANELLO, Italy - Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has no concerns about how Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will get on together next season and expects competition between them to make the team stronger.

Seven-time Formula One champion Hamilton is moving from Mercedes to take the place of Spaniard Carlos Sainz alongside Leclerc at a team who were fighting for the constructors' championship in 2024.

Sainz and Leclerc won five races between them as Ferrari finished overall runners-up, 14 points behind champions McLaren.

"It's always a challenge," Vasseur told reporters at a Christmas lunch at Ferrari's Fiorano test track, when asked how he intended to manage the relationship between drivers and the challenges ahead.

"I had my challenge this year between Charles and Carlos, but I think it was part of the performance.

"Between Charles and Carlos we had some moments - Monza '23 or Vegas '24 - but at the end of the day I think it was beneficial for the performance of the team.

"Charles and Lewis, I'm not particularly worried about this. They have a huge mutual respect. They know each other, they are speaking about this for months now and I think it is much better to fight for one-two or two-three on the grid than for 19-20."