Ferrari orchestrated the most significant move in Formula 1 history by attracting the seven-time F1 world champion, Hamilton, from Mercedes, the team that supported him since his youth and propelled him to all seven of his F1 titles, as well as his impressive 104 pole positions and 103 Grand Prix victories. These achievements set numerous records in the sport.
The partnership between Mercedes and Hamilton was inseparable until February 1st, when the announcement was made and has dominated the headlines ever since. Mercedes, the losers in this scenario, and Ferrari, the winners, along with Sir Lewis Hamilton himself, revealed that the transfer had taken place. This news will continue to generate attention until the moment the number 44 is displayed on a Ferrari car, with the name ‘Lewis Hamilton’ and the Union Jack flag adorning the cockpit.
Another person surprised by this news, which shook the world of F1 to its core, was former F1 driver and team boss, Berger. In an interview with AutoBild, he stated that the late and esteemed Lauda would have fought tooth and nail to prevent Hamilton from joining Ferrari. Berger explained: “Niki would have done everything to ensure that Lewis Hamilton did not go to Ferrari. The prospect of that would have worried him, and he could have frustrated it.”
Some context: In 2012, Lauda took on the role of non-executive chairman of the Mercedes F1 team, a position similar to his Austrian counterpart, Helmut Marko. Niki served as an advisor to the Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff.
Lauda, a three-time F1 world champion (twice with Ferrari and once with McLaren), played a significant role in persuading Hamilton to join Mercedes. Despite advice from the British media and experts to stay at McLaren, a team with a proven track record, and not move to Mercedes, which was essentially a startup after acquiring the 2009 F1 world champions, Brawn GP, Hamilton followed his instincts and joined Mercedes in 2013. He replaced Michael Schumacher and became teammates with Nico Rosberg. The result of this decision is evident in Hamilton’s brilliant career and his overflowing collection of trophies.
Considering Lauda’s ties to Mercedes and his racing legacy intertwined with the team, would he really have opposed Hamilton’s move to Ferrari? After all, the great Austrian had won two F1 world championships with the Reds. His success prevented the team, led by Luca di Montezemolo at the time, from leaving F1 to focus on endurance sports car racing. Enzo Ferrari himself had contemplated this move.
However, Niki and Luca changed the course of events by ushering in a golden era for the Scuderia, persuading Enzo Ferrari to stay in F1 and abandon his aspirations in endurance racing. Years later, long after retiring and venturing into the airline industry, Lauda found himself back in the world of F1, this time in a management role. One of his initial tasks was to convince Hamilton that Mercedes was the right choice for him.
In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Hamilton reflected on his meeting with Lauda: “I have distinct memories of Niki not holding me in high esteem. I hated that at the time. When older, retired drivers express their opinions about the current generation of drivers. I never aspire to be like that. It’s easy to criticize young drivers.
“Suddenly, I find myself in a situation where I have to make a crucial decision in my life, and there’s Niki on the other end of the phone, asking if I’m interested in driving for Mercedes. I was already impressed to be talking to a three-time world champion, but on the other hand, I was unsure if I could trust him. Especially over the phone.”
However, Lauda proved to be the missing piece for Mercedes, not only to attract Hamilton but also to navigate the delicate management that followed, as Hamilton acknowledged: “Without his support, I might never have secured a place in this team. And the team would not have reached the level of success it has without his involvement. He served as an intermediary between me and the board members.”
Hamilton had a meeting with Lauda before the Austrian’s death in 2009, he reflected on that moment: “It was an incredibly challenging moment. It was shocking to see your friend confined to a bed with all those tubes. I had gone through something similar with my aunt, who succumbed to cancer. But it’s always a shock.
“With Niki, you could still sense his sharp spirit shining, but his fighting spirit was diminishing after that prolonged battle. I miss our conversations and reading his messages. I still have many of them on my phone, and from time to time, I reread them. He gave me immense support. That’s why I miss him so much,” lamented Hamilton.
Wherever Lauda is now, if he were to take a look at the F1 scene, one can imagine it would bring him joy to see Hamilton wearing the red of Ferrari, imitating him almost half a century later. After all, it is every driver’s ultimate aspiration, including Lewis’s.
Perhaps Berger is mistaken in this case?
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