We didn’t think that the “silly season”, a period of all the rumors – especially the craziest ones – on the Formula 1 transfer market, would start so soon. But with 14 of the 20 drivers in the field at the end of their contracts at the end of the 2024 world championship, this is perhaps not surprising. Thursday, therefore, the time for speculation began, with a spectacular rumor in the corridor: Lewis Hamilton, linked to Mercedes in 2024 and 2025, would arrive at Ferrari, from… 2025. And when Sky Sports announced that the signing was confirmed, the world of Formula 1 has gone into overdrive.
The Italian site Formu1a.uno, close to the Scuderia, affirmed this Thursday morning – as well as the references autosport.com and motorsport.com – that Ferrari is working on this option, following several fronts: John Elkann, president of the brand, and Frédéric Vasseur, general director of Scuderia Ferrari. The two men have been trying to convince the 39-year-old seven-time world champion to wear red for months. John Elkann had a telephone interview with the Briton last August, before he signed a new two-year contract, and Frédéric Vasseur has always remained in excellent contact with his Formula 3 (2005) and GP2 champion ( 2006) from the ASM and ART years.
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Lewis Hamilton on his way to Ferrari while he has a two-year contract, which Toto Wolff has re-signed with Mercedes for three years, it is at least a working hypothesis in which we firmly believe on the other side of the Alps. For what ? Because Frédéric Vasseur has still not re-signed Carlos Sainz, so the commitment is coming to an end, to team up with Charles Leclerc, who has just returned for “several years”, probably five, until 2029.
Above all, we will have to see what remains of the Hamilton – Ferrari connection on the evening of the first 2024 Grand Prix, on March 2 in Bahrain. If the Mercedes, designed again by James Allison after two monumental failures by Mike Elliott (since fired), is competitive, there will perhaps no longer be any urgency to look elsewhere for Lewis Hamilton. But supporters of a Lewis Hamilton in red will perhaps be able to say to themselves that with an eighth title in his pocket, the Englishman would have accomplished his mission at Mercedes and could want one last great thrill, at 40 years old. Unless Ferrari has joined Red Bull at the top of the bill with its completely redesigned car. Which would make the Rossa a very tempting single-seater…
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