Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are close friends (Image: Getty)
has called upon the advice of former F1 rival and close friend in preparation for his first week as a driver. The seven-time world champion met his new team on Monday, and his first test is on Wednesday at Fiorano.
Hamilton and Vettel shared many fierce title battles during their time on the grid together. Still, during the latter years of their career, the two multiple-time world champions forged a close friendship, united by their similar values away from the racetrack.
After leaving at the end of the 2024 campaign, Hamilton now seeks to do what Vettel couldn’t and bring World Championship glory back to Maranello. After parting ways with long-time partner Pete Bonnington, he will link up with the German driver’s former race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
According to a report from , Hamilton phoned former icon Vettel ahead of his first week as a driver. The 40-year-old dialled up his friend to ‘compare notes’ and help the Brit prepare for his first few days at Maranello.
Speaking to C4 about their friendship after Vettel’s retirement at the end of the 2022 season, Hamilton said: “I think everyone is going to miss Seb. I’m really grateful and really honoured actually to have the relationship that I do with him.
“In general I think, building [relationships] with a lot of the drivers, there’s a different relationship I feel I have. It’s growing with them, some less than others, but one I’m really, really grateful for is Seb.
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Lewis Hamilton drove for Ferrari on Wednesday morning (Image: Getty)
“A man that genuinely really stands by his word. Full of integrity. Generally just very kind and humble but full of humility. But also compassion. He’s one of the only drivers that stands for something.
“What other driver here has really, truly stood for something other than themselves? That’s something to really be admired in a human being. He will be missed on the track. I think he’s probably one of the few drivers that I will always… in 20 or 30 years’ time, we’ll still be friends.”
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Vettel hasn’t ruled out a motorsport return of his own, either. The four-time world champion was fleetingly linked with the seat vacated by Hamilton in 2024, but his most likely route back onto the racetrack will be in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The 37-year-old has been linked to Porsche’s WEC programme and could be a contender to represent the German manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2025. However, a full-time return to racing is unlikely for Vettel, who is enjoying downtime with his family after a glittering F1 career.