Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur laughed off questions about Lewis Hamilton’s adjustment to the team, specifically when it comes to the local Italian cuisine.
The seven-time Formula 1 champion joins the Maranello outfit after a 12-year stint with Mercedes, and alongside the team change comes a change in powertrain, language, and processes. One difference, however, is the move from English to Italian food – something that Vasseur hilariously shut down
While speaking to the media, including Motorsport.com, Vasseur dismissed the idea that the British driver would struggle with Italian food. He explained:
“I’m not sure that it’s a drama to adapt yourself to the Italian food when you are coming from the UK,” he laughed, poking fun at the food that comes from his driver’s home country.
The 40-year-old driver has likened his first race with Ferrari, the Australian Grand Prix, to his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007. He explained:
“I’m very, very fortunate. I’ve had this amazing career here in Formula One, and starting with McLaren here in 2007 was an epic feeling, and then starting with a new team again with Mercedes was again, incredibly special. I think this is very reminiscent probably of my first year.
“I think all those years I’ve gone up and down the path of looking up and seeing the red garage, and now I’m actually in the red garage, so it’s a really nice feeling.”
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Photo by: Kym Illman – Getty Images
Four-time champion and Hamilton’s former rival Sebastian Vettel has also spoken about how much of a change the move from Mercedes to Ferrari will be for the Brit.
“It’s big. Anybody who changes team, it’s a big move. New people you work with is probably the biggest one. It’s a different culture. Obviously most of the teams are English, only two are Italian. That’s probably the biggest shift.
“I grew up watching Michael. He was my hero and he was most of the time in red, so to me it felt different because of that,” he explained.
“I’m not sure Lewis had the same dream, but I think it’s special for anyone who gets the chance to step into the red car.”
