[SidTheChamp]

Originally Posted by mjk24

One of Two possible outcomes to this move:

1. It's a purely money based move, both for Lewis & Ferrari.

For Lewis, with the rumored figures being reported, it would make him the highest paid driver on the grid. Ferrari also agreed to support all his demands regarding his charitable vision for the future after F1, something that Mercedes had declined to earlier.
In short, Ferrari is a glorified retirement home for Mr. Lewis.

For Ferrari, the mere news of Lewis signing for them added 6 Billion Euro's to their market cap. And for John Elkann, Chairman & part owner of Ferrari, it's a matter of prestige. Another feather in his cap to sign one of the great's into his team,
Just like he orchestrated Ronaldo's signing for Juventus, another team owned by John Elkann.

Very well said. I fully agree. It's primarily John Elkaan's ego over anything else that they are paying a huge sum (~85 million USD per year) for Lewis Hamilton and committing an astronomical sum (~246 million USD) for Project 44. Then the business part. Ferrari merchandise (not the actual cars) only sells about 2 Billion Euro per year. They expect a huge boost there from Hamilton fans. Plus additional sponsor interest.
From racing point of view, its not a big bet on 40 year old driver who is not favorite to beat teammate Charles Leclerc in the first place. Lets see what happens.

2. Lewis is hungry as every and Ferrari have shown him solid data that affirms they will be the ones to beat come the 2026 regulations change (Like Mercedes did at the dawn of the Hybrid Era).

2025 will be the year to warm up and get his affairs in order within the team (Like his first season with Mercedes in 2013).

2026 will be Ferrari's first title since 2007 courtesy Lewis, which would be his record breaking 8th - cementing himself as the GOAT once for all.

Either ways, F1 wins!

Lewis Hamilton has bet on Mercedes dominance in Turbo Hybrid era(2014-2021) to happen again at Ferrari with new regulations from 2026. It may be one in a million shot to happen again. But it can happen, even with a very little chance.
However if recent history is indicative of anything, Ferrari had the better car at start of 2022 with current regulations. But more often than not, they messed it up with execution and once Red Bull and Max caught them up, it was all over pretty soon.

[ds.raikkonen]

Originally Posted by mjk24

2. Lewis is hungry as every and Ferrari have shown him solid data that affirms they will be the ones to beat come the 2026 regulations change (Like Mercedes did at the dawn of the Hybrid Era).

2026 will be Ferrari's first title since 2007 courtesy Lewis, which would be his record breaking 8th - cementing himself as the GOAT once for all.

Ferrari had the best car in 2022 and look where they ended up

Even in 2007, Kimi could scrape a WC as Hamilton-Alonso tripped over each other. SF won the constructor's as McLaren was stripped of all points following Stepney gate..

The SF have literally become 'Too Italian to win', used to think it was a joke but they proved it. Even with LeClerc behind the wheel, they could'nt even come close to RB, even Mercedes caught up with them in the end.

I have a feeling that Newey might also move to Ferrari for the 2026 development and Hamilton signing up, or perhaps Hamilton has moved partly as Newey himself is heading there! Ferrari need a modern version of Schumacher-Todt-Brawn type partnership to win anything against the likes of RB/Mercedes/McLaren. Now that the 'Schumacher' aspect has been covered, let's see what happens next..

[volkman10]

AN ITALIAN AT MERCEDES - Andrea Kimi Antonelli!

It is Andrea Kimi Antonelli who has already impressed in testing and Mercedes has decided to entrust him with the heavy legacy of Hamilton, who moved to Ferrari.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is the name of the Italian driver born in 2006 from the province of Bologna who will take Lewis Hamilton's place at Mercedes in 2025, the year in which the English ace will move to Ferrari.
The German manufacturer saw a long way, deciding to sign him at just 11 years old, a period in which he raced in 60 Mini Kart. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff saw Antonelli as predestined. However, the first to notice that Andrea Kimi Antonelli actually had the so-called "X Factor", were Giovanni Minardi and his father Giancarlo Minardi, a top talent scout who made Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli and Fernando Alonso debut in F1.

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