2025 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari

[basti313]

Meh

Meh answer when asked to provide backing for a meh assertion.

F1s entire existence is about marketing value, and certain things, like an 8xWDC in the most competitive sport in the world, are simply priceless.

If Hamilton wins 8 this year, his value to Mercedes over time is incalculable. Expect a big offer to incentivize retirement.

There is no money for this. The Merc F1 team struggles as Merc itself is struggling with its failed Hybrid and Electric strategies. They do not own the team anymore and can not pump it with money. Plus they simply do not have a current marketing strategy where Ham would fit at all. There can not be a big offer.
Anyways...with this money they should pamper some crucial engineers, pay gardening leaves and develop the 2026 engine....then they might have kept him.

The Merc situation was just not appealing to him. It’s that simple. You don’t leave when you are happy. People saying it’s not about the car are being naive.

Absolutely. I would even go deeper, it is more the engine, not the car. Currently Ferrari won all necessary lobbying (taking aero out, their own fuel injectors for everyone...) and is in the background pumping the new engine with dev money. They anyways had the biggest budget in F1 to overcome the 2019 issue.
Reminds of 2012

[SiLo]

Meh answer when asked to provide backing for a meh assertion.

F1s entire existence is about marketing value, and certain things, like an 8xWDC in the most competitive sport in the world, are simply priceless.

If Hamilton wins 8 this year, his value to Mercedes over time is incalculable. Expect a big offer to incentivize retirement.

There is no money for this. The Merc F1 team struggles as Merc itself is struggling with its failed Hybrid and Electric strategies. They do not own the team anymore and can not pump it with money. Plus they simply do not have a current marketing strategy where Ham would fit at all. There can not be a big offer.
Anyways...with this money they should pamper some crucial engineers, pay gardening leaves and develop the 2026 engine....then they might have kept him.

The Merc situation was just not appealing to him. It’s that simple. You don’t leave when you are happy. People saying it’s not about the car are being naive.

Absolutely. I would even go deeper, it is more the engine, not the car. Currently Ferrari won all necessary lobbying (taking aero out, their own fuel injectors for everyone...) and is in the background pumping the new engine with dev money. They anyways had the biggest budget in F1 to overcome the 2019 issue.
Reminds of 2012

Merc don't really pump much money in at all. Most of it is covered by sponsorships.

[basti313]

F1s entire existence is about marketing value, and certain things, like an 8xWDC in the most competitive sport in the world, are simply priceless.

If Hamilton wins 8 this year, his value to Mercedes over time is incalculable. Expect a big offer to incentivize retirement.

There is no money for this. The Merc F1 team struggles as Merc itself is struggling with its failed Hybrid and Electric strategies. They do not own the team anymore and can not pump it with money. Plus they simply do not have a current marketing strategy where Ham would fit at all. There can not be a big offer.
Anyways...with this money they should pamper some crucial engineers, pay gardening leaves and develop the 2026 engine....then they might have kept him.

The Merc situation was just not appealing to him. It’s that simple. You don’t leave when you are happy. People saying it’s not about the car are being naive.

Absolutely. I would even go deeper, it is more the engine, not the car. Currently Ferrari won all necessary lobbying (taking aero out, their own fuel injectors for everyone...) and is in the background pumping the new engine with dev money. They anyways had the biggest budget in F1 to overcome the 2019 issue.
Reminds of 2012

Merc don't really pump much money in at all. Most of it is covered by sponsorships.

Well, exactly this is the issue. The sponsorships pay the operational costs, but not the strategic costs.
If you look into the history...why was Merc unbeatable in 2014? Well...of course you can argument with some smart decisions, but I fear is it boils down to they simply put in MUCH more money into the game. Not only in the engine, but at the time also into the team/aero. Hamilton followed this money as McLaren had exactely the opposite path and this doubles the point: At the time McLaren had MUCH more sponsor money than the weak Merc team.

From the point of strategic costs RedBull is of course prime with their tech center, the engine department that is burning money and to some degree the former AT team. Now where do they stand in stats?

It would be nice if we could clearly see the current amounts which go indirectly into the preparation of the new engines. But up to my knowledge they are not available. As mentioned from the past numbers and moves as well as the developments and politics I see Ferrari super high in the game.

[Vanja #66]

Sure Vanja, sure...

It´s been too much bashing, for years, to now try to show yourself as a balanced fan

An exceptional example of quality discussion, kudos

Adios, Andres

[bluechris]

The sentence "Mercedes is a big brand and bigger than Hamilton" will be proven after 5-10 years without a title like many other teams. Then and only then if they commited to be in the sport and loosing continiously, i will consider them as a big team like MCLaren, Ferrari, Williams where the last championsip that this teams got was before many years but they continue to race and spend money and try year after year.

When you win everything is happy pappy .. but when you loose you show your endurance and commitment.

[Big Tea]

Lewis also has lots of "side projects" on the go and has probably done all he can with them at Merc. Moving to Ferrari gives him a new start in a powerful team in another country, which at this time may be as important to him as getting more wins. It is probably not just about the racing

[SiLo]

In terms of brand it's a match made in heaven. There is no more prestigious brand in automotive than Ferrari, and no bigger individual brand in F1 than Hamilton.

[Luscion]

[AR3-GP]

[Chuckjr]

Guys guys. It’s not complicated.

Ferrari are buying credentials they didn’t earn to sell a brand that needs a recent champion at the helm. Lewis signed for more money than any other team would have ever agreed or could afford. He’s at the end of his career. Likely his last contract. Time to cash in for every dollar possible. Lewis is loyal to winning and money. He can’t have the first one anymore so he’s taking the second. In his position, who wouldn’t? No team would pay 400 large for a declining has-been. Come on people. This is money and branding. Take racing out of it. Take loyalty out of it.

Merc would never, ever have paid him that much. Never. They didn’t need to. He was established brand material with all the credentials to boot. Ferrari chose to pay for all that. They wanted to have a relevant champion in their company and so were willing to pay for what Merc had earned beating them down. What’s the saying? If ya can’t beat em’, join em’. Whoring in one sense, opportunity in another. Just depends on which drivers and teams you prefer.

This is a last career move to set up the next 25. Lewis knew he wasn’t going to win in a Merc or a Ferrari. That’s just the way it is. Newey is not beatable in an aero age. This was about a large payday and securing an extremely lucrative future with a whole new fan base to pilfer. My contention is if Lewis doesn’t win, no matter the excuse, the fan base and press at Ferrari will throw a monkey wrench into his plans. Everything hinges on winning because Ferrari fans / media won’t forgive failure, imo. Lewis could do no wrong at Merc. It will not be the same at Ferrari. If Charles beats him it’s going to be even more awkward when he’s being paid what, 8 times what Charles is paid? I don’t know what Charles’ contract pays but it’s not near 100 M per year.

And yes I think it’s going to be VERY awkward at Merc and George will be given preference this year. Lewis bailed on them. They will return the favor.

[dialtone]

Guys guys. It’s not complicated.

[...]

You're on one of the 5 stages of denial at the moment, it's not looking pretty. Imagine saying that Ferrari hasn't earned brand recognition or saying that the longest relationship in motorsport history is not about loyalty (Lewis has only driven for Mercedes his whole career until now).

It will pass, just breathe.

[mendis]

Guys guys. It’s not complicated.

[...]

You're on one of the 5 stages of denial at the moment, it's not looking pretty. Imagine saying that Ferrari hasn't earned brand recognition or saying that the longest relationship in motorsport history is not about loyalty (Lewis has only driven for Mercedes his whole career until now).

It will pass, just breathe.

Someone once said here, "Attack the post, not the poster".

[dialtone]

Guys guys. It’s not complicated.

[...]

You're on one of the 5 stages of denial at the moment, it's not looking pretty. Imagine saying that Ferrari hasn't earned brand recognition or saying that the longest relationship in motorsport history is not about loyalty (Lewis has only driven for Mercedes his whole career until now).

It will pass, just breathe.

Someone once said here, "Attack the post, not the poster".

I’ve done that. The arguments brought forward are laughable, there’s not much to be said, and I wrote why in the post. I was just trying to be helpful with the other comments, not insult OP, that tenor of discussion doesn’t help anything.

[georgechou]

Guys guys. It’s not complicated.

[...]

You're on one of the 5 stages of denial at the moment, it's not looking pretty. Imagine saying that Ferrari hasn't earned brand recognition or saying that the longest relationship in motorsport history is not about loyalty (Lewis has only driven for Mercedes his whole career until now).

It will pass, just breathe.

Do you need loyalty/patience to drive that rocketship in 2015 after 2014, in 2016 after 2015? No.
When did loyalty kick in? Start of 2023. Not 2014-2022.
Is there loyalty? Yes he wants 3 years.
Besides loyalty? Merc won in Brazil, Ferrari is not better at the start of 2023.
What happened then? Merc did not want him in 2026 for now.
Where can he driver in 2026? Ferrari.
Big money? Can come in 2025 then.
Promising engine? Signed 2+1.
Seen it before? Well the same Agnelli Elkann family group spent 100m on CR7 and a contract that Perez did not want to offer.
Did the stock rise? Since Ronaldo fever gripped Juventus, the club's share price has doubled from €0.69 on July 3, when credible transfer rumours were first reported across Europe, to €1.57.
Jersey selling? sold 520,000 Ronaldo jerseys in 24 hours, almost half his transfer fee.
Why Ronaldo? Juventus wants Champions League. They did not win it for decades. Close in 2015 and 2017. CR7 has 5 CLs and winning mentality.
Age? 33, not a problem.
Hot topics? Whether it’s a great transfer. Is it worth it. Who can win CL first, Juventus or Madrid. Whether Perez will regret. What if it failed.
Just like now. Whether it’s a great transfer. Is it worth it. Who can win WDC/WCC first.
All in all, he needs to beat Leclerc and Ferrari needs to build the car.
2025? Many excuses available.
2026? If he can’t beat Lec, it will not be good.
At that time, stock or commercial selling or money will no long be the key.
Look at CR7, he had these all, just not the championship there.

[cheeRS]

Exactly. Attack the post, not the poster, but when the poster (Chuck Jr) is so out of touch and biased/bitter about the topic at hand, we’d be remiss not to clean up the mess.

Hamilton to Ferrari is the biggest and best story in F1 in years, at least since the WDC 8x robbery in 2021. It’s not ‘simple’ like you claim. It’s great for Hamilton, Ferrari, and F1’s fans.

Will he be successful? What does success mean for him? For Ferrari? We don’t know yet. Is he washed up/has been? He was at his absolute best only 2 years ago. We don’t know. That’s the best storyline - not knowing what will happen.

Further, Hamilton has commanded the top salary in F1 for nearly 10 years. He doesn’t need the money, but definitely deserves it. That’s the game of being the most successful driver ever. Money was not the top factor here. Important? Always. Chuck, you make it seem like “money and winning” are bad motivators. Isn’t that what every man on this earth is motivated by?