No driver, no matter how skilled, has claimed the F1 Championship with Ferrari since Kimi Räikkönen narrowly defeated then-rookie Hamilton in 2007.
The roster of Ferrari drivers since that time includes esteemed talents such as two-time F1 Champion Fernando Alonso and four-time Champion Sebastian Vettel, as well as the highly regarded future teammate of Hamilton, Charles Leclerc.
Several of the swiftest drivers in F1 were burdened with uncompetitive Ferrari vehicles, and the Italian team, once a frontrunner in race strategy, made some notable errors in recent years. Ferrari has struggled to live up to its illustrious history, and some in Italy are doubtful that Hamilton’s arrival could alter that.
“I am unsure if I support it. First and foremost, they must rectify the issues with the car,” former Benetton and Renault team boss Flavio Briatore expressed to Italian agency LaPresse on Thursday. “You can even have Batman on your team, but if the car lacks competitiveness, the driver’s impact is minimal. The crucial aspect is that the car functions properly.”
There were already indications of a turnaround in 2023 after Fred Vasseur assumed the role of Team Principal. It was a season of near-total dominance for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, but Ferrari emerged as the sole non-Red Bull team to secure a race victory all season when Carlos Sainz Jr. triumphed in Singapore. However, Mercedes narrowly finished ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ championship standings, which Red Bull ultimately won.
Vasseur and Hamilton share a long-standing relationship that predates Hamilton’s entry into F1. The French engineer was in charge of the ART team in 2006 when Hamilton, then a 21-year-old aspiring to make the leap to F1, clinched the title in the GP2 series.
“Fred comprehends the mindset of racing drivers, and he approaches things in a distinct manner from me, yet his track record demonstrates his success,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated on Friday.
Securing Hamilton’s signature right under Mercedes’ nose—Wolff claims he was unaware until Hamilton informed him on Wednesday morning—occurred despite the fact that Wolff and Vasseur are old acquaintances.
“It’s a bit like rugby, where you exchange blows on the field but still maintain a respectful relationship afterward,” Wolff remarked.
Hamilton brings a wealth of racing experience to Ferrari, which could aid the team in adapting to the new regulations set to be implemented in 2026. Furthermore, his global celebrity status could provide a boost to Ferrari’s broader business endeavors.
The announcement of Hamilton’s signing had an immediate positive impact on Ferrari’s finances, with their stock surging by nearly 10% after the news broke on Thursday.
If Hamilton manages to secure his eighth title with Ferrari, he would become the team’s first British driver since Eddie Irvine narrowly missed out on the championship in 1999. While he would be the third British driver to achieve this feat with the team, he would be the first since John Surtees in 1964. (Reporting by James Ellingworth, Additional reporting by Daniella Matar)