Elkann deserves immense praise for his previous criticism and his subtle involvement in the team he inherited from his grandfather, Gianni Agnelli, who saved the prestigious Italian brand for Enzo Ferrari. However, on February 1, 2024, he orchestrated the most significant news in the history of F1 by securing the services of Lewis Hamilton.
I envision Lewis telling Elkann something along the lines of: “I would like to conclude my career at Ferrari…” And the Boss making him an offer that he cannot reject, likely exceeding $40 million, and so on.
Contrary to the narrative being spread by the uninformed ‘media’ and influencers (who are prevalent in the F1 world) that Lewis chose Ferrari as a last resort because he believed the new 2024 F1 Mercedes was subpar and had nothing to lose, this is completely false! They are clueless!
This partnership between Hamilton and Ferrari goes beyond World Titles or having a faster car. It is about legacy and destiny. I believe it was decided during the summer break or shortly after last year, during a meeting between Elkann and Hamilton. They made the deal then and there. Around the time of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Hamilton even sported a Ferrari-red outfit (pictured below), which may have been a hint that the deal was done. Looking back, it was a very cheeky move by LH44!
Since then, Hamilton has been reorganizing his management team and possibly finding a way to break the news to his biggest fan and Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff. With that hurdle out of the way, the timing of the announcement is questionable but inevitable. Hamilton’s signing with Ferrari was not a secret that could be kept forever.
So, less than a week ago, the headline “Ferrari signs Hamilton” went viral worldwide, overshadowing the previous viral story of F1 rejecting the Andretti-Cadillac 11th team bid, pushing it to the backburner for now. However, it completely steals the spotlight from that outrageous decision.
The Ferrari-Hamilton news is too massive to ignore at the moment. We must analyze the repercussions and speculate about the possibilities. Max Verstappen remains the best F1 driver I have ever seen in my 50 years of following this sport, and for that reason, he is my current favorite. However, Lewis has always been ‘My Man,’ and as long as he is at Maranello, I will consider myself a part-time Tifosi.
Now, let’s speculate on how Elkann can continue to deliver more successes for Ferrari now that he has Hamilton on his team, alongside Charles Leclerc, a formidable pairing.
Adrian Newey! With the introduction of new Formula 1 regulations not just for 2026 but also for the years beyond, Ferrari is in dire need of the expertise of the Red Bull design genius as soon as possible.
Amidst an internal investigation into alleged misconduct involving Christian Horner, who may very well lose his job as a result, Ferrari might not have to go to great lengths to secure the services of the sport’s leading engineer. Newey’s designs are highly sought after and have consistently achieved remarkable success, putting them in a league of their own.
While Horner is presumed innocent until proven guilty, this incident has exposed weaknesses in the top management structure of the reigning World Champion team. This presents an ideal opportunity for Ferrari to approach Red Bull’s greatest asset.
With Newey on board, Ferrari would complete Elkann’s triumphant trio of decisions aimed at transforming the team into the most dominant force in Formula 1 history. This plan would come to fruition in 2029, when it is highly likely that Lewis Hamilton will retire and Max Verstappen will join the team.
This strategy aligns with Ferrari’s longstanding tradition of attracting and nurturing F1 World Champions. Michael Schumacher, alongside Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, and others, laid the groundwork for bringing in a World Champion to kickstart their success.
Hamilton would be the first piece to fall into place at Maranello, followed by Newey in the not-too-distant future. And when LH44 eventually calls it quits, “Ferstappen to Ferrari” has a captivating ring to it. It could very well be a manifestation of destiny. Only time will tell…