Ferrari’s move for Lewis Hamilton was chiefly a sporting endeavour. They view him as the missing piece as they try to win the F1 title for the first time since the late 2000s.
While he endured statistically his poorest season in 2024, finishing outside the top six for the first time ever, Hamilton is the most successful driver in F1 history. 105 race wins have contributed to seven world championships, a haul only Michael Schumacher can match.
Claire Williams felt ‘desperately sorry’ for Carlos Sainz, who lost his seat at Ferrari despite performing well. Up against any other driver (with the possible exception of Max Verstappen), he would have kept his drive, but the allure of Hamilton was too strong.
It would be naive to suggest commercial considerations played no part in the signing. Hamilton is by far the best-known driver on the grid and one of the most marketable athletes in the world.
In addition to being knighted, Hamilton has featured in the TIME 100, a list of the most influential people on the planet. It is, therefore, a dream move for the team’s sponsors.
Ferrari welcomed new title partners last spring in the form of HP. They’d already recruited Hamilton at that point, which may have allowed John Elkann and Fred Vasseur to pump up the price tag.
Experts estimate just how much Lewis Hamilton’s first post as a Ferrari driver was worth
On 20 January, Hamilton shared his first official photo as a Ferrari driver. He was standing outside Enzo Ferrari’s iconic home, next to an F40 sports car.
He wrote that he ‘couldn’t be happier’ to realise his dream of racing for the Scuderia. The post has racked up more than 5.7 million likes, making it the most-liked F1-related post ever.
Even his fellow drivers looked on in admiration. In the comments, Lando Norris called Hamilton a ‘don’.
Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport consulted specialists and found that the post was worth €920k (or £767k) to Ferrari’s sponsors. HP alone earned an estimated €147k (£124k).
Why Lewis Hamilton’s faces FIA investigation before Australian Grand Prix
Hamilton earns £39m per year at Ferrari, before bonuses. That equates to £750,000 per week, less than his post would have generated.
F1’s commercial rights holder Liberty Media will surely welcome the transfer. It’s arguably the most iconic driver-team combination ever.
Sporting success could be doubly lucrative for Ferrari. In addition to greater prize money, they will become even more attractive to partners.
However, Ferrari face an FIA investigation before the Australian Grand Prix after Red Bull complained about their rear wing. They’re confident that delegates won’t find anything untoward, but an enforced change now could be destabilising.
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