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Fred Vasseur has worked closely with Lewis Hamilton throughout his career, from his junior days to the present day at Ferrari.
The Frenchman was the man by Hamilton’s side as he won the GP2 title in 2006. Vasseur was pivotal in the Brit’s development behind the scenes before he stepped into Formula 1 with McLaren in 2007.
Vasseur would join the F1 grid with Renault in 2016 and compete against Hamilton as he dominated the grid with Mercedes. The pair would reunite at Ferrari in 2025, with the 57-year-old being the key to bringing the seven-time champion to Maranello.
A year since this iconic shot ⏳ Be honest — one word for Hamilton’s Ferrari era so far? 👀
Their reunion, thus far, has not gone according to plan, with Ferrari suffering a winless campaign in 2025. Their lack of results put pressure on Vasseur’s status as team principal.
Hamilton stuck up for Vasseur, eventually leading to the Frenchman signing a new contract. It highlights just how close the pair are, yet the Ferrari boss says there is one other driver who is more ‘passionate’.
Fred Vasseur names Jean Alesi as the most ‘passionate’ F1 driver he’s ever worked with
Vasseur has worked with several drivers throughout his career, but one that stands out to him is former Ferrari and Benetton F1 driver Jean Alesi.
The fellow Frenchman has almost a cult following from his time in F1, as he was one of the most popular drivers in the 1990s. His clear talent behind the wheel often did not translate to results, thanks to poor reliability, crashes and ill-timed moves between teams.
Although Vasseur worked with Alesi in DTM and not F1, he still affirms that he is the most ‘passionate’ driver that he has ever worked with. Asked the question on the Pirelli YouTube channel, he replied: “Jean. In DTM, Jean Alesi.
“Jean is so emotional. We didn’t do that much together, but I was at Mercedes at one stage doing the DTM and he was also in the team.
“And he’s so passionate with everything that you can even feel it in the approach of the fans. They are in love with Jean, and, perhaps he was also a bit too emotional in his career but he knows this.”
READ MORE: Who is Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur? Everything you need to know
Could Fred Vasseur replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2026?
Vasseur has told Hamilton that everything will be new in 2026 after a disastrous 2025 season. With the new regulations, it is hoped that the 41-year-old will have a change of fortune.
The Ferrari boss will be close to Hamilton throughout 2026, but the pair will be under pressure to deliver results. Vasseur must provide a car that is capable of winning races, while the seven-time champion must use it to fight at the front.
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Hamilton has been ‘hurt’ by people saying he should retire, but with his contract said to expire soon, Vasseur could be faced with replacing him come 2027.
Vasseur has drawn up a four-driver shortlist of potential candidates to replace Hamilton. Among them is McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as well as homegrown talents Oliver Bearman and Rafael Camara.
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