2204 replies to this topic

[Risil]

HOLY CRAP

 

https://www.autospor...-2025/10571253/

[ConsiderAndGo]

 

 

Biggest driver transfer in F1 history.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 01 February 2024 - 09:47.

[grandmastashi]

Megaton if true.

[SophieB]

Hahaha, bring it.

[lewislorenzo]

Wow…surely you would wait for the season to be a few races in at first

[Muppetmad]

I couldn't see the logic for either side, but if this comes off, Hamilton must be looking to keep going for at least a handful more years, and he must be confident that Ferrari are going to deliver the goods in 2026. Fascinating stuff.

[Topsu]

Incredible. I salute Hamilton!

[thefinalapex]

Will make this season at Mercedes a bit awkward isn’t it for Hamilton? If its true that Toto is pissed. But exciting times, i wish more top drivers would change teams more often.

[Hellenic tifosi]

Much as I admire and respect Hamilton, this makes zero sense imho.

[CSF]

This says absolutely nothing for Toto Wolff, the first time he has had to build a team and they go backwards to the point of losing Lewis Hamilton. 

[JimmyClark]

This says absolutely nothing for Toto Wolff, the first time he has had to build a team and they go backwards to the point of losing Lewis Hamilton. 

 

How I'd like to be a fly on the wall in Toto's office this week. 

[Touchdown]

Woah, that's huge.

 

And honestly, I fancy Charles in this one...

[JHSingo]

Too many years too late, sadly.

 

Not a good sign for the future direction of Merc either. 

[Louis Mr. F1]

Anyone feels sorry for Toto’s headphones?

Edited by Louis Mr. F1, 01 February 2024 - 10:02.

[IrvTheSwerve]

Hamilton/Leclerc would be a mega lineup.

[Frankbullitt]

Anyone feels sorry for Toto’s headphones?

 

And the desk, and his watch, and his fist...

 

He must be fuming. I love it.

[messy]

I don't blame Lewis at all. Mercedes have **** the bed and their sheets are still stained no matter how many times they put them through the washing machine. Zero sign of them reasserting themselves at all, he's hung around for long enough really given his record. This feels like his chance to make the late-career Ferrari switch that Senna never got the chance to, almost, and will be exciting as hell.

Except.....I also quite expect Leclerc to beat him and wonder whether this is actually a good move for a team that's already possibly got the best, most well balanced team mate pairing on the grid. But I guess it clears the way for Sainz to go to Audi.

[DeKnyff]

If it finally happens, in my opinion it would make sense for both parties:

 

For Ferrari, it could be like a wake up coup: with a driver like Hamilton on board, you must deliver a winning car, no ifs, buts or maybes. Also, Hamilton can provide a huge experience on how winning teams are run.

 

For Hamilton, winning a Championship with Ferrari could be a stellar way to quit the sport. And if he didn't win, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Also, I imagine he would get a meaty paycheck.

[garoidb]

Was Lewis not contracted for 2025? In any case, an interesting move that will add to the interest for the 2025 season (if true). Mercedes have George and were, therefore, correct to bring him into the team when they did. And now, there is the question of who gets the other Mercedes seat (again, if this is really true)? 

[midgrid]

I find the timing of this news suspicious, given the desire by all F1 stakeholders to bury the Andretti rejection story.

[midgrid]

Was Lewis not contracted for 2025? In any case, an interesting move that will add to the interest for the 2025 season (if true). Mercedes have George and were, therefore, correct to bring him into the team when they did. And now, there is the question of who gets the other Mercedes seat (again, if this is really true)? 

 

The story states that his Mercedes contract is believed to be for 2024 with an option for 2025, so the option could simply not be taken up if he does want to make the switch.

[Ali623]

I find the timing of this news suspicious, given the desire by all F1 stakeholders to bury the Andretti rejection story.

 

Assuming the Hamilton/Ferrari rumours are true, wouldn't be surprised if they timed the Andretti rejection announcement knowing that this would immediately overshadow it.

[JimmyClark]

Assuming the Hamilton/Ferrari rumours are true, wouldn't be surprised if they timed the Andretti rejection announcement knowing that this would immediately overshadow it.

 

It does seem awfully convenient. 

[pRy]

Would Mercedes decide to let him go now?

[Ruusperi]

I see Vettel's fate. Well, maybe his reputation won't get tarnished as badly as Vettel's. But since he will be 40, past his prime, it's highly likely he gets beaten by his teammate.

[TecnoRacing]

Wait a minute.... am I really going to have to start buying Ferrari merch now ?  

[Disgrace]

 

Retiring because you aren't winning anymore is also a bad look, [Hamilton] should stay and fight

 
Or rejuvenate himself by moving to Ferrari for one final challenge, that's the bombshell story F1 needs.

Just call me Eddie Jordan.

[thefinalapex]

Just call me Eddie Jordan.

 

   

[MJB5990]

I just don't see it.

I don't get it.

Surely just a smokescreen around the Andretti news?

If ... IF it happens, Charles wins on a Saturday but on a Sunday, let's see.

[Scotracer]

 

 

Biggest driver transfer in F1 history.

 

A driver in the twilight of their career looks to try and cement immortality at Ferrari (not that he's not already).

 

I'd argue Michael Schumacher joining the team in the mid 60s was bigger, as the team had spent many years in the doldrums and Michael was at the height of his powers.

 

I'm trying to think of other historical equivalents. Mansell being let go by Williams after his dominant 1992 win. Hill the same after 1996 and ending up at Arrows. Anything pre-1980s?

[Coral]

I just saw this on Sky Sports News! What on earth?! Is it true?

[JimmyClark]

BBC now reporting it. 

 

Its interesting that when these rumours happened last year, none of the more credible orgs reported it. 

 

Now they are. Definitely no smoke without fire, in this instance. 

[Boing 2]

IF this is true and it's a big if, it could mean one of two things, either Lewis has seen the data on the 24 Merc and it looks like a dog and after a decade at the team he's had enough. OR the car looks like a winner and he thinks he can put title 8 in the bag this year so everything thereafter is just gravy and why the hell not.

 

Considering their last title is 17 years ago and Alonso, Vettel and LeClerc have failed to land a championship in that time, this is a huge risk

[ConsiderAndGo]

A driver in the twilight of their career looks to try and cement immortality at Ferrari (not that he's not already).

 

I'd argue Michael Schumacher joining the team in the mid 60s was bigger, as the team had spent many years in the doldrums and Michael was at the height of his powers.

 

I'm trying to think of other historical equivalents. Mansell being let go by Williams after his dominant 1992 win. Hill the same after 1996 and ending up at Arrows. Anything pre-1980s?

Given he woulda been close to 50 by this time, an extraordinary achievement!

[Chillimeister]

Don't understand the attraction for Hamilton myself, unless he is just completely done with Merc and needs to go somewhere else. His motivation for continuing to race can only be to win an 8th championship, but at Ferrari he'll be up against Leclerc who is more than good enough to take lots of points off him even if Hamilton can get the better of him. Meanwhile Verstappen (even if RB is no longer the best car) will likely accumulate points remorselessly to yet another driver title. Maybe Ferrari are focussing on the constructors title, if which case this makes more sense.

[Sabre1977]

Hamilton will not go to Ferrari to be number two, or being a mentor for Charles.

 

Only thinking the clash between italian and british press I can only think about this:

 

[absinthedude]

Who cares? This has no resemblance to F1 any more. 

[YoungGun]

Forza Hamilton!! 

[JimmyClark]

IF this is true and it's a big if, it could mean one of two things, either Lewis has seen the data on the 24 Merc and it looks like a dog and after a decade at the team he's had enough. OR the car looks like a winner and he thinks he can put title 8 in the bag this year so everything thereafter is just gravy and why the hell not.

 

Considering their last title is 17 years ago and Alonso, Vettel and LeClerc have failed to land a championship in that time, this is a huge risk

 

It's a lot easier to predict if the car will be a dog than if it will be a winner, especially when you don't know what the likes of Red Bull are doing. 

 

But if the numbers show no improvement on last year, or only a tiny one, then it's pretty obvious it's not going to go well. 

 

Even if it did show a huge step forward, why would he trust data correlation after the zero-sidepod debacle? 

[pendle]

Not a surprise. A senior manager from Merc is also going to Ferrari in 2025 and Lewis is close to them

[garoidb]

Don't understand the attraction for Hamilton myself, unless he is just completely done with Merc and needs to go somewhere else. His motivation for continuing to race can only be to win an 8th championship, but at Ferrari he'll be up against Leclerc who is more than good enough to take lots of points off him even if Hamilton can get the better of him. Meanwhile Verstappen (even if RB is no longer the best car) will likely accumulate points remorselessly to yet another driver title. Maybe Ferrari are focussing on the constructors title, if which case this makes more sense.

 

Winning it at Ferrari would add to its lustre. Lewis can become a Ferrari legend without spending all that much time there (if he claims the 8th title, obviously). I am not sure how this would ultimately affect his Mercedes ambassador possibilities post-retirement but that's for another day.

[Frankbullitt]

Hamilton will not go to Ferrari to be number two, or being a mentor for Charles.

 

Only thinking the clash between italian and british press I can only think about this:

 

 

A mentor to Charles??? 

 

That is a good one.

[thefinalapex]

https://twitter.com/...003070911394127

 

Mark Hughes also basically confirming it now.

[hamilton10000]

Sky sports news just claimed that Toto will be addressing the Merc factory today and announcement will come later today

[Coral]

Oh wow I hope this is true! I have always liked the idea of Lewis in red. Let's face it, Lewis is near the end of his F1 career and realistically he is not going to win any more WDCs. He has been at Mercedes too long and the "magic" has gone. I reckon a nice fun spin at Ferrari for a couple of years would do Lewis the world of good. Bring it on!

Edited by Coral, 01 February 2024 - 10:35.

[garoidb]

 

 

Biggest driver transfer in F1 history.

 

Kimi back to Ferrari in 2014, perhaps?

[Sabre1977]

A mentor to Charles??? 

 

That is a good one.

 

It was suggested by some posters before.

 

Obviously, LH will not play this role ever.

[Pete_f1]

DID NOT SEE THAT COMING!!!!

[Disgrace]

Hamilton will be 40 going into 2025 and Leclerc is entering his prime years. It will be very interesting to say the least.

[Frankbullitt]

It was suggested by some posters before.

 

Obviously, LH will not play this role ever.

 

Because Charles doesn't need a mentor, of course.

 

Sky are reporting that this is a done deal now too!