Huge applause to Elkann, who has often faced criticism in the past for his discreet interest in the team he inherited from his grandfather Gianni Agnelli, the savior of the esteemed Italian brand for Enzo Ferrari. However, on February 1, 2024, he orchestrated a groundbreaking event in F1 news by securing the services of Lewis Hamilton.
I can envision Lewis telling Elkann something along the lines of: “I would like to conclude my career at Ferrari…” And the Boss presenting him with an offer that he cannot refuse, likely exceeding $40 million, and so on.
Contrary to the narrative being spread by the uninformed ‘media’ and influencers (who are prevalent in the F1 landscape) that Lewis realized the new 2024 F1 Mercedes was subpar and, with nothing to lose, signed a deal with Ferrari as a last resort. How clueless!
This was simply the most significant ‘union’ in F1, surpassing World Titles and the speed of Mercedes or Ferrari’s cars. It is about leaving a lasting impact and fulfilling destiny. In my estimation, it occurred during the summer break or shortly after last year, during a meeting between Elkann and Hamilton.
They made the decision then and there to finalize the deal. Around the time of the Las Vegas event, Hamilton proudly sported a Ferrari-red outfit (pictured below) during the weekend, which may have been a hint that the deal was sealed. If that was the case, in hindsight, it was a very cheeky move by LH44!
Since then, Hamilton has been reorganizing his management team and possibly contemplating how to break the news to his number one fan and Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff. With that hurdle overcome, the timing of the early announcement is questionable but inevitable, as Hamilton’s signing for Ferrari was not a secret that could be concealed forever.
So, less than a week ago, the headline “Ferrari signs Hamilton” went viral worldwide, overshadowing the previous viral story of F1 rejecting the Andretti-Cadillac 11th team bid, which is now on the backburner. However, it undeniably stole all the attention from an outrageous decision.
But the news of Ferrari-Hamilton is too monumental to ignore at this moment. We must analyze the repercussions and speculate on the possibilities.
Max Verstappen remains the finest F1 driver I have ever witnessed in my 50 years of following this sport, and for that reason, he is my current favorite. Lewis has always been ‘My Man,’ and therefore, as long as he is at Maranello, I will consider myself a part-time Tifosi.
However, let us speculate on how Elkann can deliver more successes for Ferrari now that he has Hamilton in his team, alongside Charles Leclerc, a formidable pairing.
Adrian Newey! With the introduction of new Formula 1 regulations not only for 2026 but also for the future, Ferrari is in desperate need of the Red Bull design expert.
Given that Christian Horner is currently involved in an internal investigation regarding alleged misconduct, which could potentially lead to his dismissal, Ferrari might not have to spend a fortune to acquire the services of the sport’s leading engineer. Newey’s designs are highly sought after and have been consistently successful, placing him in a league of his own.
While Horner is presumed innocent until proven guilty, this incident has exposed weaknesses in the top management structure of the reigning World Champion team. This presents an ideal opportunity for Ferrari to approach Red Bull’s most valuable asset.
If Newey were to join Ferrari, it would complete Elkann’s triumphant strategy of transforming the team into the most dominant force in Formula 1 history. This vision would likely be realized in 2029 when Lewis Hamilton is expected to retire and Max Verstappen becomes a part of the team.
This is my grand plan. It aligns with Ferrari’s tradition of being a destination for F1 World Champions to thrive and succeed. Michael Schumacher, along with Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne, and others, set the precedent by bringing in a World Champion to kickstart their success.
Hamilton is the first step towards achieving this at Maranello. Could Newey be next? And then Verstappen? While Lewis serves his time at Ferrari, Newey can follow in the not-too-distant future. And when LH44 eventually hangs up his helmet, “Ferstappen to Ferrari” has a nice ring to it! It could be a match made in heaven. Let’s wait and see…
