P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Looking at the history of established Formula 1 megastars recruited to Ferrari shows a mixed bag of outcomes. But understanding why they were mixed might be the best way of foreseeing how things will be there for Lewis Hamilton
The history of Formula 1 megastars recruited to Ferrari has shown mixed outcomes, which is crucial to consider when evaluating Lewis Hamilton’s potential move. Hamilton, as one of the highest-profile F1 drivers, faces a significant transition to Ferrari after achieving success with another team. There is a distinction between drivers like Charles Leclerc brought in as proteges versus established megastars like Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, and Sebastian Vettel. Carlos Sainz’s case was unique, being a talented driver brought in to fill a gap left by Vettel’s departure. Unlike other Ferrari recruits, Hamilton is not seen as the team’s long-term focal point but more as a marketing asset, with performance expectations but not the entire team’s future resting on him. The success of past Ferrari recruits like Schumacher was enabled by a strong team structure, while Raikkonen’s tenure highlighted the challenges of succeeding without a similar support system in place.
