Today we interview Richard Foegele (“Foegie”), our resident F1 expert. As the 2024 F1 Season comes to a close, we’re particularly interested in learning more about the 2025 choices made by Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz Junior.
Melinda: Help me understand, why did Lewis Hamilton move to Ferrari?
Foegie: Good question. After 12 years at Mercedes, I think he wanted a change. Everybody at some point in their career wants to drive for Ferrari … due to the prestige, the mystique and the ultimate cool factor. Ferrari is an incredible brand. Nothing beats the “tifosi”, the fanatic supporters of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula One. Ferrari is a religion in Italy, not just a race team. It is a HUGE source of National pride. At age 39, this is Lewis Hamilton’s last hurrah.
Melinda: What did Lewis Hamilton accomplish at Mercedes?
Foegie: Hamilton earned his first World Championship at McLaren, then went on to earn 6 more at Mercedes.
He won the British Karting Championship and was invited to attend the Autosport Awards, an annual event that is the pinnacle of the F1 Season. Given that McLaren was Hamilton’s favorite car, his father pointed out Ron Dennis, the boss of McLaren, to him. Hamilton, age 10, strode up to Dennis in a borrowed suit and said: “I'm Lewis Hamilton, I just won the British karting championship and one day I want to be Formula 1 world champion in your car”. Dennis gave Hamilton an autograph and replied: “Phone me in 9 years”.
“The first time I sprayed a Champagne bottle I didn’t know how to do it.” (Lewis Hamilton)
Three years later the talented teen joined the McLaren-Mercedes Young Driver Support Programme. Showing extraordinary talent, Hamilton went on to win the F3 and F2 championships (both stepping stones to F1) at his first attempt. And, in 2007, suited up in McLaren livery, he finished on the podium for McLaren at his first ever Grand Prix (Australia). He earned his first F1 win at the Canadian Grand Prix that same year.
At McLaren there was friction between Hamilton, the young gun, and established #1 driver Fernando Alonso, who departed at the end of the 2007 Season. Hamilton won his first World Championship with McLaren the following year.
There is no doubt that The Great Niki Lauda had something to do with Hamilton leaving McLaren for Mercedes in 2013, with promises of building a team around him and making Hamilton a legend. He did exactly that, setting Hamilton up with whatever was necessary to bring home 6 World Championships (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020). Following a lung transplant, Lauda died while receiving dialysis in 2019.
“One of the proud moments for me was Niki used to always, if I did a good job he would take his hat off which he didn’t take off for anything really.” (Lewis Hamilton)
Melinda: Hamilton is moving to Ferrari. Why didn’t Ferrari keep Carlos Sainz Jr.?
Foegie: In 2004, Fred Vasseur, an aeronautical engineer, joined Nicolas Todt (son of former Ferrari F1 team principal Jean Todt) to form the ART Grand Prix team. In that venture, they won the GP2 Championship with Lewis Hamilton in 2006. That’s how he knew the kid. Fast forward to 2023, Vasseur joined Ferrari as Team Principal, with eyes set on the ultimate prize, a World Championship under his tutelage. Could Leclerc pull it off? Maybe, but he hadn’t done so since joining the Scuderia in 2019. Could Hamilton do it? Likely, with 7 World Championships already to his name.
Leclerc is not about to bend over for Hamilton, so it’s going to be quite a show. Do you remember what it was like when Vettel and Leclerc raced together at Ferrari? There was a lot of carnage and Vettel finally parted ways with the Team. I suspect we’ll see a repeat between Leclerc and Hamilton.
Melinda: Why is Carlos Sainz Jr. going to a currently 2nd tier team like Williams?
Foegie: There is no doubt that Sainz was crushed when his Ferrari contract was not renewed.
Of all the available deals, The Smooth Operator took his time picking what he wanted. Sainz Jr.’s final decision was likely taken based on his long-term prospects and a good sales pitch from Williams (“Here’s the money/resources we have, here’s what we’re going to do, we can do this”).
A former Mercedes guy, James Vowles, is running Williams. Hopefully he can pull it all together, as Williams has done 9 times before. Their cars are still not brilliant, but Sainz Jr. will attract money that can be used to fuel the long-term. Audi was definitely at the table – it has the money, but its success in F1 could not be assured. There were also rumors of Red Bull being in the mix, but that didn’t pan out. Hamilton’s vacant seat at Mercedes has been filled by 18 year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The teen has followed a trajectory similar to Hamilton’s, except he skipped ahead a few years (Hamilton joined F1 at age 22) – some wonder if Kimi is too young for the opportunity. His 26 year old teammate, George Russell will be happy to be in the limelight.
Melinda: Looking ahead, do you have a prediction to make?
Foegie: There will be euphoria at Ferrari with Hamilton initially, then the bottom may drop out. There are other young people coming up the ladder who are downright scary and real fighters. I see a changing of the guard in F1. Then again, let’s not forget that Lewis has been a change agent in his own right.
Williams is still looking for budget, they’ll need that in order for Sainz Jr. to have any hope. Let’s see what 2025 brings.
To kick off the 75th year of Formula One, all teams will reveal their new cars at a special event in London on February 18th. Tickets were sold out within an hour, but streaming will be offered. The 7th season of Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” docuseries will likely be released in February to build hype for the coming Season. Preseason F1 testing will take place in Bahrain Feb. 26-28 and the first GP of the 24 race Season will be March 14-16 at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.
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