Former Italian Formula One driver Ivan Capelli believes that Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari might open up the doors to Adrian Newey’s much-anticipated move to the Maranello. Capelli, who raced for Ferrari in 1992, feels Hamilton’s choice to join Ferrari ahead of the F1 2025 season will make them ‘ more attractive’ to many technical geniuses, including Newey, who has previously turned down the many opportunities to join the Italians in the past. As recently as early last season, the Red Bull maestro turned down the opportunity to join Ferrari, preferring to stay with the Red Bull F1 squad; but Hamilton crossing the line following his final year with Mercedes this season may open the floodgates.
Capelli believes that while the 39-year-old British driver alone may not be able to turn around Ferrari’s fortunes, which have yet to win a Constructor’s title since 2008, he can surely assist tempt the likes of Adrian Newey to switch sides. Hamilton has an enormous wealth of experience, he can make an important contribution to Ferrari, Capelli told AutoSprint. He can provide different rhythms and visions for future planning.
He alone will not distort performance, because he drives the car and does not design it, however, it could open up future horizons for some engineers who until now have not considered a job at Ferrari, Capelli stated. Seeing Hamilton join Ferrari makes the team more attractive also for the technicians, and above all, I say Newey because in any case, we are witnessing a seven-time world champion arriving in Maranello giving the idea that there is a future projected towards something different, the veteran Italian further added.
Even in the past, the 16-time Constructor Championship winners have made multiple ploys to get the Red Bull guru on their side, but he has always resisted the push. Capelli had worked with Newey at March F1, and he feels that if Hamilton and Newey are able to win a title with Ferrari it would be a great “apotheosis”.
He is the one who in the last 35 years has characterized the successes of three different teams, Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. For him to get to Ferrari, perhaps with some engineers at followed, ending up at Ferrari and maybe making it win would be the apotheosis of his career, Capelli concluded. Mexican driver Sergio Perez also believes that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari will bring “interesting dynamics”.
