Ferrari have reportedly launched an ambitious bid to snatch Max Verstappen’s engineer away from Red Bull ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival.
There might be three months of the current season left to run, but anticipation surrounding Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is already picking up.
After 12 successful years with Mercedes, the Brit is packing up and leaving for new pastures, but Ferrari are keen to make sure Hamilton has the tools to compete upon arrival.
The Italian constructor have been busy prepping their team for the 2025 season, with team principal Fred Vasseur having lured Loic Serra from Hamilton’s soon-to-be-ex team Mercedes.
But Vasseur isn’t believed to be stopping there, with the Ferrari chief having reportedly made an approach for Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
As per Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, it’s claimed Ferrari’s advancements have been met by a cold shoulder from the Red Bull man.
In fact, such is Lambiase’s importance to the Red Bull project, it’s said Verstappen personally has requested that the engineer is not allowed to depart at the end of this season.
What’s more, RacingNews365 report Red Bull tabled a contract extension, which boasted favourable terms for the engineer, in an attempt to fend off any outside interest.
Lambiase isn’t said to want out either, meaning Ferrari will most likely have to look elsewhere if they wish to strengthen their engineering ranks next year.
But according to one former F1 star, Hamilton is being backed to succeed at Ferrari, whatever the conditions.
Former world champion Jenson Button believes Hamilton’s adaptability will see him settle well with the Prancing Horse.
He told Sky Sports earlier this year: “I think if it was Lewis of sort of seven, eight years ago, it will be a tricky relationship.
“But now, he just seems so relaxed in himself and no, I don’t think they’re going to have issues as being team-mates at all. No more than Carlos [Sainz] and Charles have right now…
“Do I think they’ll work well together? Yes. I think the positives that Charles has, he knows the team, speaks Italian. If he wanted to, he could make it really really difficult for Lewis and that team, the atmosphere.
“And you can say, ‘Well, that’s not sportsmanlike’, but that’s part of racing and Nico Rosberg will tell you that as well. It’s about getting the team of people behind you, so that gives you strength and it takes away strength from your team-mate.
“But, Lewis has been around long enough to understand the situation and I’m really, really looking forward to that fight between team-mates.”
Racing continues this season next weekend when the drivers head out of Europe for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
