Last Updated on January 18 2025, 1:10 pm

The world of Formula One fell silent in Abu Dhabi during the second week of December 2024 and the intervening holiday period has offered little in the way of news for the fans. Audi have again completed the 100% takeover of Sauber whilst Valtteri Bottas raised questions of the Swiss based team’s chassis building skills.

Adrian New is presumably scribbling away on his easel with his pencil as he figures out the secrets =to the FIA’s next big rule changes coming in 2026. Yet its early days yet as the first big rumbles in January last year came with just six days remaining of the winter month.

Charles Leclerc’s contract extension was finalised by Ferrari but given the team bosses assertions he wished to retain both his drivers into the future, the silence from Carlos Sainz was deafening.

 

 

 

What a difference a year makes

The presumption made by many in the media was the Spaniard was playing hard ball and required an equal contract to that of his team mate. But nobody could know the real reason was Ferrari Group chairman was deep in talks with Lewis Hamilton.

When the bombshell finally dropped, it was Toto Wolff left chasing his tail in an effort to explain why he was losing his star driver of twelve years. Clearly the contract he had signed with the seven times champion just a few months earlier, was not to Hamilton’s liking. The deal with Ferrari secured Lewis a further two years in the sport, while his supposed Mercedes multi-year deal in fact ended after twelve months.

The break up from his Mercedes home was long and painful for Hamilton in 2024, as he suffered his worst season since joining F1 finishing a lowly seventh in the drivers championship. He was also hammered by his team mate in Grand Prix qualifying, 19-5 but managed to save a little face by ensuring in Abu Dhabi his points tally alongside George Russell over three years was in favour of Hamilton.

Mercedes refused to allow Lewis to drive for Ferrari in the post 2024 season test in the Emirate state and so when he became a free agent, Hamilton celebrated his new future posting on LinkedIn: ’F1 Driver: Ferrari.’ He continued with a short message in Italian which concluded with the phrase, “andiamo” (translated as “let’s go”).

Vasseur grants Hamilton request refused by Wolff

 

 

 

Hamilton keen to go

“I could not be more excited for the year ahead. Moving to Scuderia Ferrari, there’s a lot to reflect on,” said Hamilton. “Let’s make it one to remember. Andiamo.”

“To anyone considering their next move in 2025: embrace the change. Whether you’re switching industries, learning a new skill, or even just taking on new challenges, remember that reinvention is powerful. Your next opportunity is always within reach. Here’s to 2025—a year of embracing new opportunities, staying hungry, and driving forward with purpose.”

Now Lewis faces his first drive in the iconic red liveried F1 cars next week, as he tests the SF-75 from 2022 in Fiorano. Hamilton has been offered by Ferrari the keys to Enzo’s old house while at the test, a privilege only previously offered to the legend of the Scuderia, Michael Schumacher.

Lewis recently claimed he would “not be living in Enzo’s house” although the exact meaning of his words are unclear and the tifosi may yet see him stay there during the upcoming test. Ferrari have rolled out the red carpet for Hamilton, offering him five consecutive days testing of a previous car in Barcelona.

Red Bull crack mystery of 2024 car failure

 

 

 

Lewis receives Leclerc’s Ferrari testing allowance

Gone are the days when these outings were unrestricted in terms of mileage, now the teams have an annual allowance of 1000km for the testing of previous cars for their full time drivers and Hamilton is getting the lot as he familiarises himself with the team and their operations.

There is one record Hamilton is unlikely to deliver to his new employers and that’s a win in his first race with the team, something only Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso have delivered on debut. Hamilton will take on the challenge of Charles Leclerc as his new team mate, although with his 26 pole positions the Monegasque will be cutting Lewis no slack.

A number of F1 commentators have questioned the sense of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc, given the resident from Monaco has even greater experience and F1 plaudits than his former team mate George Russell. Yet the reality was Lewis was out of control of his destiny at Mercedes and while he may have completed this year for the silver arrows, the spectre of Kimi Antonelli was always lurking in the wings.

Ferrari on their part appear genuinely excited at the prospect of Hamilton driving for the team. Benedetto Vigna, the Ferrari chief executive, welcomed the arrival of Lewis and commented that his new year message was a “powerful” one. Italian publication Corriere della Sera, now reports Vigna explaining the feeling in the camp ahead of the upcoming test sessions.

Stroll courts sponsors with praise of Verstaoppen

 

 

 

Ferrari executive eulogises over Hamilton

“There is excitement, there is a great desire to start, to face the tests. Change is always important and Hamilton has put himself back into the game.

“I loved reading his post on Linkedin at the start of the year, a powerful message not to give up hope in all areas. With him and Charles [Leclerc] we will have fun.

“A guy who has won seven titles can transfer so much. If I talk to Fred [Vasseur, team principal] he emphasises his ability to give technical guidance, but not only that. He has a great desire for change, he’s not afraid.”

“At the age of 40 he has put himself back into the game. He has embraced a different culture in many ways, compared to the Anglo-Saxon one.

Aston Martin insider calls out “over rated F1 driver”

 

 

 

Ferrari on the F1 up

“To me that post on Linkedin reminded me of when Indro Montanelli [famous Italian journalist who founded the La Voce newspaper aged 85 following a disagreement with Silvio Berlusconi in 1994] decided to change at the age of 80.

“I found it beautiful.”

With Ferrari embracing Hamilton publicly, there has not been abetter time in recent memory to be joining the iconic motor racing team. They fell just 14 points short of claiming the 2024 constructors’ title but were the form team across the final triple header of weekends.

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Audi latest F1 project developments

The German car brand Audi is inching ever closer to its debut in Formula One. Having signed up to the 2026 new power unit regulations Audi are morphing from the struggling back of the field Sauber into what many hope will be a team capable of challenging for honours within the sport.

The original intention was for Audi to purchase just 75% of the Swiss based team but this week the German automaker confirms it has completed as planned the final acquisition of shares.

However, the division of the VAG group’s plans changed towards the end of 2024 as they sold an estimated 30% of the Audi/Sauber team to the Qatari wealth fund who have big F1 ambitions. RSE ventures attempted to buy a stake in Formula One when CVC partners and Bernie Ecclestone was at the helm yet the final deal was done with US based Liberty Media shutting out the middle eastern investors…. READ MORE