Hamilton joining Ferrari is the news Formula 1 so desperately needed

Building a narrative

Let's be honest; Max Verstappen has one hand on the World Championship trophies for 2024 and 2025. Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and even Aston Martin will inevitably close the gap before the huge regulation overhaul is introduced in 2026. There's only a natural convergence as the set of regulations grows older. But will it really be enough, given Red Bull's dominance? It's highly unlikely. 

The winter break might provide some memory fog combined with the anticipation set to come from the quotes given by teams during the car launches and winter testing. But the facts are clear. Red Bull won all but one race in the 2023 season. It will take some stopping and some comeback to overturn that deficit. Hats off if anyone manages it. Of course, Hamilton moving to Ferrari isn't going to change that picture suddenly. It perhaps gives Ferrari slightly more chance, and they perhaps do have the best chances to move forward given their pace in qualifying and slight race pace improvement. After all, Hamilton jumping ship shows where he believes Mercedes are. 

But the reality is: it would've been status quo until 2026. Perhaps some driver changes after the 2024 season, but essentially, things were due to remain the same at the top. Perhaps only Sergio Perez moving out of the top six seats. Hamilton's move to Ferrari provides Formula 1 with multiple new angles and narratives. Leclerc against Hamilton. Mercedes against Hamilton. Hamilton wearing red and racing against Verstappen. The prestige of Hamilton racing for Ferrari. Ferrari's story of climbing back to the top takes another twist. Hamilton against Russell takes another turn. And then there are the consequences from this shockwave that will be felt elsewhere.

Formula 1 need Hamilton in general

Formula 1 bosses will undoubtedly be rubbing their hands with glee if Hamilton stays in the sport and can be with Ferrari as an important flag-bearer for the sport. No F1 driver is as famous as Lewis Hamilton. No team is as famous as Ferrari. Where Hamilton appears, doors open wide, thus also for Formula 1 and Ferrari. When Hamilton speaks, for instance, about diversity and equality, people listen.

Moreover, with the right material, he guarantees sporting excellence, someone spectators come to the track for. Let's face it: surely motorsport fans would rather see a battle between Hamilton and Verstappen than Russell against Verstappen or Leclerc against Verstappen? Russell and Leclerc are good drivers. They are not as good as Verstappen and Hamilton. Just the idea that Hamilton could, at some point, fight Verstappen - the man trying to surpass him in terms of sporting achievements - again makes the mouth water. The prospect of it being in a Ferrari makes it even more exciting.