Hamilton's Ferrari dream takes a dent: Will it still be a masterstroke?
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Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025 was announced before the 2024 Formula 1 season even started. After Red Bull confirmed Adrian Newey's exit, the deal became tastier but the prospect of the design engineer joining Ferrari has vanished. The dream has taken a dent. But there are further reasons to suggest why the seven-time World Champion has still made a masterstroke.
The British Formula 1 driver has (so far) only made one career move, but it was a masterstroke. Most fans and personnel within the Formula 1 world were shocked to see him announce a move from McLaren to Mercedes. Recently, Hamilton hit back at those critics. It turned out Mercedes had the best engine for the 2014 rule changes, and they dominated until Verstappen and Newey stopped it in 2021.
After the 2021 season, it took Hamilton nearly 1,000 days to win another Formula 1 race. He has since won two and proved that he can still compete at the top of Formula 1 when he gets the chance.
Fred Vasseur is building something
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur is preparing for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Frenchman could not lure Newey to the Italian team, but he did manage to sign some familiar names for Hamilton. That included Loic Serra, whose role was announced last week. The hype about Hamilton's dream move to Ferrari has been dented by the news that Newey will move to Aston Martin. However, there are still plenty of reasons for Hamilton to optimistically look towards his future with the Italian team.
It still might seem like a bizarre call, especially considering that Carlos Sainz can beat Charles Leclerc on his day. However, when you sign a driver like Hamilton, you light a fire within your team. Suddenly, the engineers become extra motivated, and you become an even more attractive proposition to outside interest. When there's a chance to work with (statistically) the greatest driver of all time, you probably take it. Especially when he is heading towards the final stages of his career.
Ferrari are still capable of winning races in Formula 1. Charles Leclerc won the last race in Italy with a clever strategy from the Ferrari pit wall. That's not often been said in recent years, and Hamilton now has proof that the department has improved or at least has strong potential.
Hamilton also thrives on support. His constant messages to the fans when speaking straight after sessions might seem tiresome, but Hamilton genuinely means it from the bottom of his heart. It's perhaps no coincidence that he ended up furious with his own qualifying performance in Italy on the day his successor Andrea Kimi Antonelli was announced and Toto Wolff held a conference sandwiched between his two future drivers. With the direct support of the Tifosi, Hamilton will only feel the benefits. He's not a driver who will buckle under that Italian Tifosi pressure.