Signing Lewis Hamilton puts the pressure on Ferrari to end its long wait for F1 title
Associated PressLewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 is a gamble for the seven-time Formula One champion. The list of Ferrari drivers since then includes modern greats like two-time champion Fernando Alonso and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, as well as Hamilton’s highly rated future teammate Charles Leclerc. “Fred understands racing drivers’ minds and he does things very differently to me, but they are very successful, like his track record shows,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Friday. Hamilton brings vast racing experience to Ferrari — which could help the team adapt to new rules coming in 2026 — and his global celebrity status could bring a boost for Ferrari’s wider business. If Hamilton can win his eighth title with Ferrari, he’d be the third British driver to do so with the team, but the first since John Surtees back in 1964.