Vasseur plays down importance of Hamilton Ferrari talks

Frederic Vasseur has joked that if Lewis Hamilton signed a contractevery time he had spoken with the Mercedes driver, it "cost me afortune." Vasseur and Hamilton are close with the seven-time WorldChampion securing the 2006 GP2 title with Vasseur's ART squad, withVasseur confirming that he had spoken with Hamilton Azerbaijan ashis Mercedes future was in doubt. In August at the Italian GrandPrix, Hamilton signed a new two-year deal with Mercedes that willtake him to 41 years old, indicating a long-rumoured move toFerrari could be off the table. Vasseur also confirmed when heexpects deals for current drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainzto be renewed. Vasseur on Hamilton talks "I'm talking with Lewiseach week or each month for 20 years, so I can't say that I didn'tspeak with Lewis at one stage, as we are always in contact,"Vasseur told media including RacingNews365. "It's true because halfof the grid drove for me in the past, and in Baku, I had adiscussion with Lewis in the paddock, and it started to goeverywhere, but if he signed a contract with me each time that wespoke in the past, it would cost me a fortune!" Vasseur alsotouched on Max Verstappen, believing any team "would be pleased" towelcome the reigning triple World Champion, while also giving acryptic update on current drivers Leclerc and Sainz. "It could bethe target [that new deals are agreed with both] before race one,"explained the Frenchman.