Hamilton to Ferrari confirmed

In 2025, Loic Serra (engineer for Hamilton) along with several Mercedes technicians step into the Scuderia. I see Serra having influence in the 2026 car due to the formula change.

 

Hamilton left before he could be forced into a retirement he didn't believe he needed to take.

That's also understandable. One can see the logic of both sides.

 

They should look for star engineers, more than famous drivers, IMO.

 

I have to admit that Alonso has more fight than Lewis has after Alonso's move from team to team after Ferrari.

 

Vasseur is counting on a Hamilton effect taking place, me thinks.

They believe that by getting Hamilton, it will give the team credibility with designers and engineers, who will beg to be apart of a possible Hamilton title with Ferrari story.

 

I'll disagree and make this prediction: Ferrari will win more races with Hamilton, than Mercedes will win with his replacement.

 

Not when he was at McLaren and Renault ! He soon gave up. The McLaren episode was shameful.
Honda saved his neck and insisted to have him on when they started with McLaren.
Honda came one year early to help because McLaren was losing the supply Mercedes engines.
Only for him to badmouth them during the teething troubles they encountered early on.
Now Alonso seems to reedem himself at Aston Martin.

 

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We agree to disagree then.

 

Found this --

Ferrari to fund Lewis Hamilton beyond just Formula 1?
French publication Sportune has released alleged details on the financial packages put forward to Hamilton by Ferrari, who unleashed the big bucks to seal the deal.

It is reported that Hamilton initially turned down a two-year deal worth just over $50m per season, Ferrari chairman John Elkann leading the negotiations, which were re-ignited by Ferrari granting Hamilton’s wish for investment into his Mission 44 organisation, while further perks were sent his way.

The terms agreed to by Hamilton reportedly includes a pay packet just north of $87m for 2025, with the option to extend for 2026, a quarter of that going into funding Mission 44, while Elkann has offered to create a joint-investment fund via Ferrari’s parent brand Exor, worth over $272m, where Hamilton would serve as the ambassador for his portfolio.

The Mercedes board had reportedly denied Hamilton’s proposal to serve as an ambassador until 2035.

 

Absolutely, which is what I appreciate about you, William. You're always civil in your opinions.

 

Wouldn't shock me see Hamilton go to Le Mans with Ferrari at some point.

 

Hamilton was looking for a corporation to fund the charity he has created to help ethnic minorities.
Mission 44 is a charitable foundation that supports bold organisations, leaders and ideas to reimagine the future and empower young people from underserved communities.

Mission 44 - Transforming the lives of young people from underserved backgrounds.

 

Simplistic William!
A Formula One top team is around hundred of peoples.
Red Bull is so dominant not because Adrian Newey only ( working part time since a few years it seems) but mainly because Horner built an efficient team in EVERY department.
It takes years and clear ideas to do this. One only can hope Vasseur is this kind of men..

 

Mclaren no but with Renault, he had a moment with Hamilton at Hungary so Ocon could win the race. Alonso held off Hamilton for 10 laps straight. Hamilton in team radio "Dangerous driving man!"

More so with AMRF1.

 

You noticed I used plural for engineer(s) ?
Of course a technical team isn't a "one-man band", even if just one person is rewarded.
Newey never did it all on his own; he had a team of designers and technicians with him.
An efficient team isn't just a collection of talented individuals, but a group of people who work together, exchange ideas, discuss problems, and cross-check solutions in an harmonious way. Newey's strength is also in recruiting talents, and make them work together. It's about creating a good atmosphere for creativity.
Newey must have the gift of creating good teams around him like he did everywhere he went.
I don't think that's the case at Ferrari where everyone seems to look over his shoulder.
This may be caused by the structure of the Scuderia, or the traditions and mentality there, IDK.

 

Mercedes-AMG’s insistence on only a two-year contract was a risk which ultimately backfired for them. Toto has admitted as much.

 

True indeed,
Pierre Waché is a perfect demonstration of what you are stating.
I have hopes Vasseur is changing mentalities within the Scuderia.
With no more brutally sacked peoples but efficiency between competence.
Interesting times ahead.
Do you notice his method already worked during the second half of 2023 ?

 

GREAT post, william.

The more we learn about this deal, the more we realize that this move has little or nothing to do with racing.

(undoubtedly why the majority of Fchat thinks this is a bad move ... most of us are in this forum for the sport, not the "image" or the "brand")

 

How so?

 

Bro. It didn't take long for you guys to find an excuse to make you feel better. How can you say this has nothing to do with racing? Sir Lewis Hamilton will be RACING for Ferrari. Ferrari has to have 2 drivers to RACE. He will not be working as a mechanic or spokesperson. His contract says he has to RACE. Again Sir Lewis Hamilton can't demand that kind of money if he didn't RACE.

 

One thing is for sure ,
Everybody on this forum, including me, is hugely speculating since we know that Lewis has signed.It looks like a lot there ( myself again) wants to feed their own bias.
Two main hypothesis :
1/ Ferrari is now just a luxury brand only able to make enormous profits and the Lewis hiring is just a marketing operation without any kind of real sportive motivation.
2/ Elkan Vigna and Vasseur have a precise plan for 2026 with all the ingredients in the making..

 

Well, there are different ways to look at this, but it looks very much like Hamilton used his appeal as a driver to obtain a $250M grant from John Elkann to fund his pet charity which is the elephant in the room in this deal.
What could he offer to financier John Elkann (Exxor really) to obtain such amount of money?
-" I'll tell you what John, give me $250m for my charity and I'll drive for your team. Ferrari"
- "Deal done, Lewis. Anyway, part of it should be tax deductible "
Call me cynical, but I can't help thinking Hamilton gets a lot more than Ferrari from this arrangement.

 

Only rumors from now.

 

Clearly, Hamilton gets major bank for himself and his cause.
But Ferrari wins too ... their DEI image gets a huge bump, merchandising sales skyrocket.

It's WIN/WIN ... without a hint of racing, or competing on-track, even in the picture.