Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari

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Discussion

Adrian W

14,702 posts

243 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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I reckon if it' is true Ferrari have made him a stupid offer and it will be his last year.

CT05 Nose Cone

25,492 posts

242 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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When I heard this a few hours ago it seemed like laughable clickbait, but now it sounds like it's actually true. Perhaps he feels like he's gone as far as he can with Mercedes or just wants a change given that he's coming to the twilight of his career. Could that mean Albon to Mercedes?

p1stonhead

27,662 posts

182 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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stuthe said:
Fair play to him.

I would in his shoes.

I hope he has some memorable races there.

Will be great to watch
This. Let’s face it he’s in his twilight years of F1. May as well at least say you had a go at Ferrari even if they were hopeless.

Frimley111R

17,031 posts

249 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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WestyCarl said:
Wow, I genuinely thought he would retire at Merc and be some sort of ambassador for them afterwards.
Me too but whilst everyone is losing their st right now, all this is at this point is rumour...

Dinoboy

2,573 posts

232 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Great news for a ferrari fan!
Even if he drives the wheels off Sainz or CLC and the car is fab, I don't think they have a chance though.
The Brawn/Todt years proved that Ferrari are lost without a proper charismatic team at the very top.

the-norseman

14,234 posts

186 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Frimley111R said:
Me too but whilst everyone is losing their st right now, all this is at this point is rumour...
Why would Mercedes call and all staff conference at 1400 if something big wasn't happening?

axel1990chp

1,114 posts

118 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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People seem to be second guessing why he's made the decision. It may just be pretty simple.

Perhaps he's resigned to the fact that an 8th is seemingly less likely than ever before: maybe Ferrari : Merc in title chances for the next few years, and that joining Ferrari as a swan song to a record breaking career may have been a dream of his from a very young age.

I'd imagine Ferrari see the brand improvement with a superstar at the helm - and if their allegiance is to Charles for the foreseeable - that Lewis can coach and teach "the young Monegasque" to become a true championship winning driver.

Never been a fan of Ferrari as an F1 outfit myself, but I am fond of Lewis as a Brit driver. Hope he does well, just not too well that it rubs Lando out the running! biggrin


Sandpit Steve

12,727 posts

89 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Knowledgeable F1 journalists saying it’s a deal.

Durzel

12,744 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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As an objective observer it makes total sense.

- Everyone wants to drive for Ferrari at some point, even if their cars are a dog.

- Hamilton probably feeling he's in the twilight of his F1 career, so better now than in 2+ years time when he might have even less hunger.

- Ferrari will no doubt be writing a blank cheque to him.

- He's under no pressure if he goes there. He's cemented his legacy already, if he excels in the Ferrari then all the better, but if he doesn't people will give him credit for dragging the car along.

- He'll be able to get (given) a special edition Ferrari for his collection.

MitchT

16,714 posts

224 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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TikTak said:
Is it? These seem like polar opposites to me.

Ferrari ban you for even talking about coilovers near one of their cars let alone slamming it then slapping 23 inch spinners and neon on it.
That's one way of looking at it.

My way of looking at it...

Ferrari are trying to be more "down with the kids", embracing the SUV market, making less of their racing heritage inspired mid engined cars and elegant continent eating GTs and instead pandering more to the "rich young people" market. Far from banning folk for modifying their cars, they'll be selling the mods themselves in the form of £100k bling packs designed by celebrities which multimillionaire social media personalities can add to their cars. Hamilton is a perfect fit for this.

Hustle_

25,572 posts

175 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Is there a chance that this is a big PR stunt to generate interest in F1 in the runup to the season? I know this is a bit conspiracy theory-y and I can't think of anything the like happening before in F1 but under this management... I'd be less surprised if this turns out to be hot air than I would by the Hamilton Ferrari move!

5150

726 posts

270 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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MitchT said:
That's one way of looking at it.

My way of looking at it...

Ferrari are trying to be more "down with the kids", embracing the SUV market, making less of their racing heritage inspired mid engined cars and elegant continent eating GTs and instead pandering more to the "rich young people" market. Far from banning folk for modifying their cars, they'll be selling the mods themselves in the form of £100k bling packs designed by celebrities which multimillionaire social media personalities can add to their cars. Hamilton is a perfect fit for this.
Indeed. Worked for Real Madrid and Beckham. . . .

Bonefish Blues

31,766 posts

238 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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MitchT said:
TikTak said:
Is it? These seem like polar opposites to me.

Ferrari ban you for even talking about coilovers near one of their cars let alone slamming it then slapping 23 inch spinners and neon on it.
That's one way of looking at it.

My way of looking at it...

Ferrari are trying to be more "down with the kids", embracing the SUV market, making less of their racing heritage inspired mid engined cars and elegant continent eating GTs and instead pandering more to the "rich young people" market. Far from banning folk for modifying their cars, they'll be selling the mods themselves in the form of £100k bling packs designed by celebrities which multimillionaire social media personalities can add to their cars. Hamilton is a perfect fit for this.
Yes, brand is key for Ferrari.

Bo_apex

3,789 posts

233 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Great news. Let's see if he can do a Schumacher, or a Mansell.


ChocolateFrog

31,705 posts

188 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Wonder how the Tifosi will take it? Was sat amongst them when he won in Monza in 2018 (I think), they were not impressed.

Think they'd love him regardless if he wins but I can imagine him getting a shed load of abuse if he's not performing.

Quags

1,623 posts

276 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Muzzer79 said:
Will Buxton was on Twitter yesterday saying that something absolutely massive was going to be announced at the end of this week.....

If this is true, it begs the question of why?

Has he seen something at Ferrari to convince him they'll be on top for 2025/2026?

Has he seen something he doesn't like at Mercedes?

Is it a personal thing?

I can't believe a driver in, let's face it, the winter of his career chooses to go to Ferrari for emotional reasons......he'll want to win again before he retires.

Massive risk. Not sure it'll pay off. But then most people (despite what the Hindsight-Harrys tell you on here) said the same about the Mercedes move......
You mean like Räikkönen, Vettel, Alonso etc?

Seems to be a thing. Will shake things up, but their personalities will clash I think.

the-norseman

14,234 posts

186 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Durzel said:
- He's under no pressure if he goes there.
Clearly no nothing about being a Ferrari driver.

Durzel

12,744 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Hustle_ said:
Is there a chance that this is a big PR stunt to generate interest in F1 in the runup to the season? I know this is a bit conspiracy theory-y and I can't think of anything the like happening before in F1 but under this management... I'd be less surprised if this turns out to be hot air than I would by the Hamilton Ferrari move!
Nah, that's just stuipid imo, no offence. Why would Ferrari participate in such a stunt? It's just unbecoming.

andburg

8,074 posts

184 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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Sainz to Audi has been there in pencil for a while now so that fits
Ferrari have buckets of cash to spend on drivers as the car/team spend is now limited

Durzel

12,744 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st February 2024
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the-norseman said:
Durzel said:
- He's under no pressure if he goes there.
Clearly no nothing about being a Ferrari driver.
Well, I meant pressure from the general public. Die hard Ferrari fans will either embrace or hate him regardless. I'm sure going into it purely as a "last year in F1" massive payday would be enough to assuage any niggling doubts.