February 1, 2024 is likely to go down in Formula One history as a significant day. That’s because seven-time F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he is moving from Mercedes to Ferrari. It’s difficult to overstate how big this news is, not only in Formula One but in the sporting world in general. The most successful driver is joining the oldest and most heralded marque in motorsport. This is a massive event and will continue to generate headlines for months and years.
But what does it mean? In due course we’ll know more about the particulars about how this happened and how it came about so suddenly. Taking a look at this move from afar though, some patterns and trends become evident.
There was chatter about this in 2023 during Hamilton’s protracted contract extension negotiations with Mercedes. Early in the year the expectation was that something would be signed in the spring. Then talk was that the deal would be announced at the British Grand Prix. Then in late August, a two-year extension was announced and everybody assumed that set the Mercedes driver line-up until the end of 2025. All during that time, there were hints that Hamilton could sign for Ferrari but few gave those much consideration. Hamilton had been backed by Mercedes since he was a teenager and has built the team around him since joining them in 2013. Something changed during that time though, enough for Hamilton to leave Mercedes.
I think the keys to this move were John Elkann and Fred Vasseur. Elkann’s mother is from the Agnelli family, who owns FIAT which owns Ferrari. There are most parts of the Exor Group but let’s just say it’s an industrial empire. Those connections and funding have allowed Scuderia Ferrari to be well-funded and competitive even when the team hasn’t done well on the race track. However, Elkann intends to change that and make the race team a winner again.
Hiring Fred Vasseur was one important step in this. His engineering background as well as success as a manger of race teams (ART and Sauber in particular) made him an attractive hire. Ferrari needed to get both their development and racing departments working better to maximize their effectiveness. They had the people, resources, and knowledge but didn’t have effective leadership in the right positions. This is one of the reasons why Ferrari have been inconsistent since 2008. The constant churn of leaders and drivers has hampered their evolution as a team, leaving them behind more dynamic newcomers like Red Bull and AMG-Mercedes.
After years of frustration, Elkann decided to hire Fred Vasseur to put the pieces in place to return to the top. In all likelihood, Vasseur had many long conversations with Elkann about what it would take to become championship contenders. In 2023, Vasseur improved the race team’s trackside operations, which meant fewer mistakes and bad strategy calls. As he was getting this squared away, Vasseur sought to put together a winning driver line-up. Securing Charles Leclerc was one important part of this plan. As it turns out, so was Lewis Hamilton.
Both Leclerc and Hamilton know Vasseur well from their time at ART Grand Prix. Both drivers were also known by team co-founder Nicholas Todt, son of former Ferrari General Manager Jean Todt and the former President of the FIA. Leclerc was kept “in the family” during his ascension into Formula One through Sauber (with Team Principal Fred Vasseur) and later Ferrari (now with Team Principal Fred Vasseur). Hamilton was kept within the Mercedes realm (first with McLaren then with Mercedes) but no doubt Vasseur kept an eye on him. Given Vasseur’s genial and friendly demeanor, it was likely an easy relationship to maintain despite being on different teams.
Fred knows Lewis and Charles, moreover both of those drivers got along with Fred during their junior formula years. He also has seen the ascension of Charles into the ranks of Scuderia Ferrari and given him an environment where he can display his considerable skills. Recall how Leclerc overshadowed Vettel during their time together at Ferrari. Given the right environment and right car, Leclerc is capable of taking on Max Verstappen and prevailing. We saw this during the first half of 2022 and if Ferrari can give him a good car this year, there is no reason why he can’t challenge for wins again.
As for Hamilton, he is a legend and will go down in history as one of the greatest drivers ever. He demonstrated this from his rookie season at McLaren, coming in an going toe to toe with reigning two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso. Since then, he has won over 100 races, 100 poles, and seven championships. He is a formidable driver with incredible race craft, plus he has attracted millions of new fans and is probably the most recognized sportsman in the world right now.
Now, both of these drivers are going to drive for the same team in 2025. Not just any team either, they will drive for Ferrari. This will be the strongest driver line-up on the grid when it happens and is on the same level as Prost-Senna or Prost-Lauda at McLaren during their heyday in the 80s.
So why would Hamilton leave Mercedes and go to Ferrari? Charles Leclerc has built the team around him similar to what Hamilton did at both McLaren and Mercedes. Plus, the politics and intrigue at Ferrari are legendary as are the expectations of the tifosi. Despite this, there is a strong allure to drive for Ferrari though. I believe the challenge combined with the ability to challenge for a record eighth World Championship is what ultimately drew Hamilton to Ferrari.
…that and around $100 million a year to drive for them.
Hamilton considered Ferrari a better bet to give him the tools and the environment where he can succeed. It would also enable him to further cement his status as a legend. He wants to challenge for wins and championships again, the combination of John Elkann and Fred Vasseur are intent on giving him what he needs to do this. By 2025, Ferrari should be in an even better position to take on Red Bull Racing since by then all the people and practices will be in place. A perfect way to end an incredible career.
But first, he will need to take on Charles Leclerc on his “home turf” with a team built around him. Leclerc is keen on winning too, having scored wins and poles but not being a consistent championship contender. No doubt, he is hungry to win and has the motivation of a young challenger who wishes to make his own mark on the sport. What Leclerc needs to develop is the metronomic consistency that enable drivers like Hamilton to compete and win consistently. If he can do this, then Ferrari will have a superteam for a few seasons.
How will Fred Vasseur handle two alpha dogs on the same team? It will be interesting to see how the dynamic evolves during the upcoming seasons, I have no doubt there will be tension and drama along the way. But if Vasseur can manage his two drivers and get the team to work cohesively, they will be a potent force. The stage is set for an epic battle both within Ferrari and between the team and the rest of the grid. It should be a fascinating and compelling spectacle to behold. I can’t wait!
