Vasseur had the toughest phone calls ever with Wolff and Sainz

Frederic Vasseur is very happy with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton. Yet he had to make two phone calls for it that he was slightly less pleased with, namely with Carlos Sainz and also good friend Toto Wolff.

Ferrari surprised friend and foe alike with the announcement of Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion will drive for the Italian team in 2025, requiring Carlos Sainz to make way. Asked how Carlos received the news and how he will do next season, Vasseur said the following in a press briefing with GPblog and others.

Why Sainz should leave Ferrari

"As you can imagine, it was not the easiest call of my life. The one of the most difficult was the one with Toto," says Vasseur half laughing. "But I'm fully convinced that he's a very professional driver, that he understands that we have a long season in front of us, that it's a huge opportunity."

Sainz still made a pretty strong impression alongside Charles Leclerc in 2023. Had he been spared the manhole cover incident, the Spaniard could have just finished above his teammate in the drivers' standings. Still, Vasseur would not call it 'unfair' that Sainz has to clear the field.

"Unfair, I don't know if it's the right word, because that I think for the team, the opportunity of Lewis, it's something that you have to consider, in any case, that he is the biggest paramount of the field. He's the guy with the biggest experience. And it's a huge opportunity for us. It has nothing to do with Carlos. Carlos did a great job last year. I'm sure that he will do a great job next year," Vasseur concluded.