Fred Vasseur admits he’s ‘closer’ to Charles Leclerc than he is to Lewis Hamilton

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Fred Vasseur says his relationship with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari ‘goes beyond the professional sphere’.

Vasseur was in charge of the Alfa Romeo Sauber team when Leclerc made his F1 debut in 2018, on loan from Ferrari.

Leclerc joined the Prancing Horse a year later, while Vasseur was recruited as team boss ahead of the 2023 season following the departure of Mattia Binotto.

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Fred Vasseur: ‘Nothing comes close’ to my relationship with Charles Leclerc

Vasseur has overseen four of Leclerc’s nine F1 victories, most recently his win at the British Grand Prix earlier this month.

In his biography, En Piste, he explained that they have formed an almost telepathic connection.

“There are a number of drivers I have been very close to, but nothing comes close to the visceral attachment I have with Charles,” he said.

“We don’t always need to talk to each other. We look at each other and understand one another.”

Lewis Hamilton raced for Vasseur at ART before he even reached F1, but they only reunited at Ferrari in January 2025.

Hamilton strongly defended Vasseur when his position came under scrutiny last year, underlining their mutual ‘trust’ as he struggled to justify his salary on track.

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“With Lewis, it’s a little different,” he explained. “There is a deep level of trust between us. I know I can trust him, and he knows he can trust me.

“We have known each other for 20 years, but I don’t have the same level of closeness with him that I have with Charles. My relationship with Charles goes beyond the professional sphere.”

Leclerc has just signed a new contract at Ferrari that could keep him at Maranello into the 2030s. It’s conceivable that he will be ever-present during Vasseur’s tenure.

In a surprising turnaround from last season, Hamilton has been the team’s lead driver so far this year. Ahead of this weekend’s Belgian GP, he is 39 points ahead.

Vasseur has faced calls to make Leclerc number two driver to maximise Ferrari’s chances against Mercedes given that they are the clear underdog.

But in light of the comments in his biography, it’s hard to see that happening until the case is overwhelming.