On Ferrari Friday’s, William Ross from the Exotic Car Marketplace will be discussing all things Ferrari and interviewing people that live and breath the Ferrari brand.
This week William discusses the drama surrounding Lewis Hamilton‘s near surprise announcement surrounding a move to Ferrari next season. What does this mean for the 8-time World Champ? What does this mean for the future of Ferrari F1? Was this the right move? What’s going on at Mercedes and RedBull. Tune in to find out!
Episode 23
[00:00:00] As part of Ferrari Fridays, William Ross from the Exotic Car Marketplace will be discussing all things Ferrari and interviewing people that live and breathe the Ferrari brand. Topics range from road cars to racing, drivers to owners, as well as auctions, private sales, and trends in the collector market.
Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the Ferrari Marketplace presented to you by the Motoring Podcast Network, MPN. Check us out, motoringpodcast. net. I’m your host, William Ross, and for Ferrari Friday this week, we’re not actually going to talk about cars, per se. We are going to talk about the [00:01:00] blockbuster news of Lewis Hamilton coming to Ferrari, going to Ferrari in 2025 in Formula One.
So I’m sure a lot of you guys out there that listen to the channel or are fans of Ferrari, you know, also are fans of Formula One. Now, Grant, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I know people like lately have kind of been, um, I say losing interest. Oh, Max Verstappen is just, you know, it’s all this Max Verstappen.
Well, obviously these people must be new to watching F1 because this is how the cycle works in F1. You have your dominant teams, you have your dominant guy. You know what? It’s the best car wins. That’s the big thing about Formula 1. It’s about the best car. Yeah, best driver helps as well, but the best car is going to win over everything else.
And the past few years, obviously the Adrian Newey design red bull has been the dominant car. Now I’m not going to take any ways from anything away from Max. We’re stopping. But prior to that. It was Lewis [00:02:00] Hamilton that won six in a row, seven in a row, six or seven or whatever the heck it was, um, with Nico Rosberg, you know, kind of dropped himself in there the one years of 2016 that he won, uh, and then just abruptly retired because he had enough of all the mental games and whatnot and he made his, you know, multimillion dollars and stuff like that.
So he didn’t need to really drive anymore. So he got done, which was kind of an interesting move and good for him. Go out on top. But obviously then prior to Lewis Hamilton, you know, we had a spattering here and there, but then you had Michael Schumacher was dominant. Um, you know, so he had consecutive five consecutive years.
It was, was it 2000 or 2001 to 2005? I believe it was, uh, that he won the championship and for our one, the constructor champions. So, you know, Michael came on to Ferrari, took him a few years to get things right. But, you know, they also brought on Ross bronze on thought. You know, they had the super team. I guess you could say that Ferrari.
In the early 2000s late 90s early [00:03:00] 2000s, you know and create a dominant car and that’s what it kind of takes And that’s what red bull has now So but anyways ferrari’s been kind of chipping knocking at the door But you know, they’ve been playing second fiddle to red bull and it’s also subsequently mercedes So like last year, you know ferrari finished third behind mercedes and then obviously red bull So far he’s got some catching up to do so.
It’s going to be really interesting to see Uh, if anyone’s been watching or paying attention, Ferrari just dropped video on the new SF24, uh, and so it looks sweet. I mean, it looks like the other cars, everyone seems to be following Red Bull’s design. Um, I mean, obviously regulation safety is, plays a major, huge role in the design of these cars.
And, you know, they have to work within the regulations, but. What always kind of kills me is when you look at these cars as these designers, no one really, I guess, say things outside the box in regards to design. Now I give kudos to Mercedes. They gave it a shot with that zero pod design and they tried [00:04:00] something completely different, didn’t work.
So they had to revert back to like the design pretty much everyone else had. But I was, I was cool. It was cool to see that because, Hey. Outside the box. Let’s try something different. Let’s not do what everyone else is doing. I mean think back to who was it Was it Benetton did the the raised nose back there in the 90s?
You know, everyone’s like what the heck is that? You know, everyone had the what the can I know but everyone had the nose went down to the ground I’m sorry, you know like the late 80s early 90s produced some of the most Gorgeous F1 cars of all time barring like say the 1960s, um, but you know, eighties, you know, uh, seventies and eighties, they had some great ones, but man, the late eighties, mid early nineties, just some gorgeous cars.
Uh, I wasn’t a big fan of those raised nose design that lasted for so long. They had some really wacky things. And again, it was all about the rules and regulations and how those things got designed. So, and there were, there were, it’s about aerodynamics. You know, it’s about downforce on that car. So obviously you got to have a slippery car.
You got to try and have least amount of drag, but you also need [00:05:00] downforce on specific tracks. And, you know, you’ll see it where a lot of the cars, they’re good on one track, terrible on the other. You know, it’s, it’s a, you know, obviously, you know, a home run. If someone can build a car, i. e. Adrian Newey, that actually is good on all tracks.
Now, I shouldn’t say it’s going to dominate every single track, but, you know, it’s going to pretty much do very, very well on every track. You know, you’re going to have some, you know, where your competitors are closer than others. Uh, but, you know, I think Ferrari had those issues. Last year, I know they pulled out Carlos Sainz, you know, uh, pulled out that one win last year for Ferrari, which was awesome.
And speaking of Carlos Sainz, that is who Lewis Hamilton’s seat is he is taking, is Mr. Carlos Sainz. Now, I’m a big Carlos Sainz fan. I like him. You know, he goes about his business, doesn’t play games, you know, everything like that. He’s got kind of a personality. Um, but you know, I like him and I, you know, I love his old man.
His old man’s phenomenal when you know, when the best rally drivers of all time. And [00:06:00] if you kind of keep an eye on him now, he’s dominating the car rally. Uh, he’s doing some other things, but you know, um, it’s going to be interesting to see where Carlos signs goes now, obviously the scuttlebutt and rumors or that is, you know, he’s going to go over to the Audi team when they kind of show up.
Uh, I believe they’re supposed to be showing up next year, you know, taking over for the Sauber team, um, as the Audi team, or I don’t know if it’s going to be 2026 when the new engine regs and everything comes in. So I’m not sure, but the rumor was, has it that he was going over there and I’ll potentially, you know, make sure marker’s name was mixed in there, whatnot.
So I don’t know. It’s going to be kind of interesting to see, but he he’ll end up somewhere. Um, obviously there’s a lot of contracts that are up after 2024. Now you had the big guys already signed. No, obviously, um, Max Verstappen signed. You know, you got, well, the Lewis is going now to Ferrari. Uh, Charles Leclerc, he, you know, he’s signed up.
So, but you’re gonna have a lot of open seats like that. You know, obviously like Daniel Ricciardo supposedly going back to [00:07:00] Red Bull, whatnot. So I don’t know. We’ll see, but let’s get back to Lewis Hamilton and him going to Ferrari. Now. This is kind of an interesting, I guess, scenario because he’ll be 40 years old.
Now, obviously this day and age, I was like, Oh, 40 years old, especially way back in the day that was about, you know. The guys weren’t really hitting their prime and doing actually serious racing until their 30s, early 40s. So, I mean, it was nothing new back then, but you know, obviously the big wave was all these young guys in, in their early 20s.
Um, obviously then you had the teens, you know, with Max Verstappen being 17 when he made his debut, which was just like, everyone’s like, Oh, that’s a big mistake everybody blah, blah, blah. But Red Bull stuck with them and look what they got now. Now he’s a multi world champion. But, you know, I think, uh, Fernando Alonso was kind of able to.
Change that stigma in regards to, you know, these guys in their forties being able to still race Obviously Fernando’s a very very unique specimen and individual [00:08:00] in regards to his talent Unfortunately for him, you know, he always wrong place wrong car wrong time, you know It’s sad because he should have more than two world championship He should have five or six, but he always made the wrong move Was it just being too antsy not waiting now?
I will give him credit, you know, he stuck around with McLaren for way too long Back there was a 20s 15 whatever it was, you know, and especially when they’re going to the growing pains with Honda but you know He was kind of loyal to them even though he had a kind of a falling out back in, you know, many years prior to that.
But, you know, kudos to him. But then obviously he took some time off. Took a sabbatical race, 8,500 caught. I wish he would’ve won the Indy 500 that year. Too bad his engine blew up. That would’ve been so awesome. But, um, you know, then came back obviously with Aston Martin. So now Fernando’s a little bit older by a few years than Lewis, [00:09:00] but he’s proving that a gentleman, driver.
of that age is still extremely capable of producing results. Obviously, Fernando outscored his teammate Lance Stroll, i. e. the son of the owner of the team. Uh, now I’ll give Kuda, I don’t, I have nothing against Lance Stroll. I think he can drive. He did very well in sub carry, got up there. Yeah. Hey, but who doesn’t, you know, a majority of these guys had to pay the way to get up there.
Hey, and so what, yeah, his dad owns a team and he owns Aston Martin basically. So, but. You know what? I think the kid can drive, you know, he’s had his moments, you know, um, you know, he’s won a pole position, whatnot, you know, he’s not, you know, he’s had his few podium finishes, but you know, I just think it gets a bad rap.
You know, there’s a lot of weight on his shoulder, you know, everyone just kind of knocks on them because I don’t know if they’re jealous because, hey, you know, who wouldn’t want to have, you know, a dad that’s a multi billionaire, uh, and you have access to all that stuff and you can pretty much go race wherever you want it.
So, but, you know, anyway, [00:10:00] so Fernando came in and kind of, not say walked all over Lance, but he pretty much did, you know, outscored him very, very by a very wide margin. So I think that kind of opened up the eyes. Now, obviously Lewis Hamilton has the CV. In regards to being, you know, a seven time world champion, i.
e. someone could say he should be eight because of that fiasco a few years back, uh, in, uh, Abu Dhabi or wherever that final thing is. Uh, F1 races and they had that last lap restart. Now I will say I was rooting for Max. I thought I was screaming at the TV, watching that finale. That was like, that was probably one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen in F1.
Uh, basically, you know, one lap last lap dash for the world championship. And you know, Max was on newer tires and obviously he passed Max and then he goes to win the world championship, you know, and, but then, you know, the race director or whatever his name was, he obviously gets canned and everything, blah, blah, blah, because.
You know, that wasn’t supposed to happen, but what’s done is done. But [00:11:00] anyways, so, I think, you know, obviously, Fernando Alonso is paving the way for these older guys to stay in the sport. And again, like I said, for, uh, Louis has got the CV. He’s a seven time world champion. And obviously, he’s proved it, you know, driving the Mercedes.
Now, obviously, Mercedes has been very, you know, I don’t want to say not competitive. They’ve been competitive, you know, but they’re just, you know, I want to say best of the rest. I guess you could say, um, but you know, they have the technical where with all, um, obviously, as you can see, they nailed the first with the hybrid era in regards to the 2014 to was a 20, 20, 19, 2020, whatever it was, um, you know, then obviously, you know, when, you know, Max came in and then the regulations changed to the new downforce regulations where they also had the under trays, uh, in, um, They changed up the car design.
They kind of messed up. So, obviously, again, it just kind of shows you it’s a hit or miss [00:12:00] situation. But, he drove those cars very well. He was, you know, showed, you know, he’s still very fast. Still can drive a car. There’s no doubt about that. He’s, uh, you know, a very physically fit person. You know, he’s a vegan.
Um, so it’s not like he’s, you know, well, these guys at that age, all the drivers, you know, have their nutritionists and whatnot. They’re not out partying or anything like that. Back in the day, you know, James Hunt, my hero, the way he just, you know, you know, sex, the breakfast of champions. That’s probably one of the greatest, you know, uh, patches you can get on your race suit of all time.
But, um, you know, so anyways, it’s shown that these guys can get, you know, still hang with the youngsters and still drive. And again, obviously you gotta have the car. But, you know, and obviously you gotta be physically fit to be able to train and do that stuff. But, it’s going to be interesting to see, one, this year, because Toto, knowing that Lewis is leaving, so are they just gonna put everything behind George [00:13:00] Russell?
Or are they still gonna try and play nice with, you know, Lewis? You know Lewis will bring A very, very structured and, you know, methodical, you know, hey, work ethic. He’s going to do what he needs to do to win races or try and win races. Um, he’s going to hammer it out. But it’s going to be kind of interesting to see what progresses throughout the year.
Because as anyone that watches Formula One, you know, say you got your number one drivers, you got your number two drivers. And even though Mercedes wouldn’t admit it, obviously Lewis was always the number one. George Russell is a very, very fast driver. So, but, so it’s going to be interesting to see what happens for this season, this upcoming season in regards to what Mercedes does and how they get behind Lewis.
Knowing the fact that the end of the season, he’s going over to one of their, you know, you got your top three, it’s Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull, there’s your contenders. So, obviously they don’t want to divulge, they’re not going to give away, you know, they just don’t want to give [00:14:00] stuff away, and I’ve seen that, you know, there’s always You know, anyway, it was very strange.
Normally you wouldn’t see this announcement or done till mid season till around June, July is when you start really, you know, everyone hates signs, new contracts or whatnot, but this was done even before this season started, which I found was absolutely astonishing that they did this so early. So, you know, and cause having the whole season to go, I mean, Lewis has got to probably think in his mind that this season is just a throwaway.
Um, You know, I mean, I don’t know. It’ll be seen unless the Mercedes comes out of the box. It’s just faster as all get out, you know, and which then it’ll be interesting because then obviously him and George will be going at it, but so I don’t know. I’m always excited for when the season starts, you know, your first about six to eight races kind of really kind of can dictate where this how the seasonal look.
So it’s gonna be interesting to see. I think now that these teams have got a few seasons under their belt. Um, [00:15:00] and with this new design, everything like that and how the downforce works now, Um, you know, so it’s, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, but Lewis’s aspect of it is even more interesting because what do you do, obviously, say you’re on track, you’re racing against, you know, the guys in the Ferrari in red, you know, you got to give them some leeway, how hard you’re going to race them, what are you going to do?
You know, I mean, it’s in your mind think, I’m going to go, you know, I’m going to work with these guys in this team next year. I mean, I don’t want to punt this guy off the track. So it’s going to be very, very interesting to see how this plays out this season with Lewis and the Ferrari guys. Cause they’re always seem to be battling it out.
Um, so obviously, you know, divulging secrets like that. So what’s he going to take over? But kind of going back to what I was trying to get to is, you know, if you want, you know, read all the, you know, stuff online, you know, and when, you know, you got all your pundits out there, they’re always going to say this, say that, whatnot, but, you know, saying.
You know that all there’s these stipulations put in place about no poaching anti [00:16:00] poaching whatnot. You know Lewis can’t take you know anybody that I said I mean come on money talks people buy out, you know, I always love how f1 works They say oh they put that person on gardening leave, you know, they’re still getting paid.
They’re just you know out there doing nothing which Who wouldn’t love that? Hey, I’m, yeah, I’m still making what I made, but yeah, I’m just, obviously I’m doing some gardening as they would say. But, um, so it’ll be curious to see if Ferrari’s able to poach any of the Mercedes engineers, any other team members over there and bring them over.
Um, you know, and try and obviously move Ferrari forward because. Frye hasn’t won the world championship since 2007 and that was with Kimi Räikkönen and then they won the last Constructors 2008 with the last run of the Constructors. So, it’s been a long time and the people of Marinello, fire is under their ass.
You know, so, you know, we got Fred Vasseur, you know, running the team. So, some thought, you know, he might come in and really shake it up or what not. So, I don’t know, you know, obviously last [00:17:00] year was his first year. So, now he knows the ropes, he knows how to operate. But the unfortunate thing is with Ferrari, it’s very political how everything is run.
You know, they’re the only construction that builds their own car and their own engine. So, I mean, they’re just, it’s a lot of politicking, a lot of BS that goes on in Ferrari, which I wish they would just kind of get rid of that crap. I don’t know if it’s just the Italian way, it’s the way Italians always do stuff.
I don’t know, but I think it really can, can hinder their progress. I think that’s why when, you know, Michael came in, Ross Brawn, you had Jean Todt, you know, you had a, a German. An Englishman and a Frenchman come in and, you know, no Italian connections, whatnot. I think they’re really able to turn things around.
Just, hey, organizationally wise, just how things done. Hey, the top down structure, you know, so no favorites, anything like that. I mean, obviously, you know, starting out, it was Eddie Irvine, which is why I was always a big fan of Eddie Irvine. Uh, but then obviously Rubens came in, you know, playing second fiddle, but, you know, Rubens got to [00:18:00] win some races and whatnot.
Uh, then, you know, obviously, you know, you had your other transitions, but anyways. Um, it’s um, this season is gonna be interesting because I think Ferrari’s got a lot to prove this year. Um, I think they need to make a big jump. You know, I only live, you know, obviously, thank God, well, they’re the only other team to win a race last year besides Red Bull, so.
Um, am I right with that? I’m pretty sure, right? I can’t remember. My memory’s terrible. Um, so, it’ll be interesting to see how they step their game up. And like I said, obviously the first six to eight races really dictate and will tell you and show you how the season’s gonna go. Um, and what these people were able to produce car wise.
No, the Skoda Butters AlphaTauri, i. e. now V, you know, uh, RBV’s the cash app team. These names are horrible. Um, you know, I suppose they’re making a big jump because they’re actually, you know, sharing more of their componentry and whatnot, technological, yada, yada with Red Bull, the parent, you know, the, the, the growing up [00:19:00] team, so to speak.
Now, there’s a fine line in regards rules and regulations regarding what you can share and what you’re not allowed to share all that kind of stuff. Because I obviously look at Haas and how Haas works with Ferrari. So, you know, Haas is, you know, model, you know, they built by basically by. As much as they’re allowed to off the shelf chassis from Dallara motors from Ferrari.
They buy a lot of stuff from Ferrari parts wise Obviously produce their own so but you know, I wish they would just you know Andretti would go in there and Haas would sell it to them or at least you know Buy out 50 percent or 75 percent as if that’s a that’s a whole different whole different episode whole different episode But anyways back to the Lewis going to Ferrari.
So When Lewis gets over to Ferrari, he’s going to be, you know, in his forties, um, you know, and he’s obviously on a multi year contract. So it’s not like a one, all right, we got an option and whatnot. And I think that was him, but the amount of money they are paying this guy is obscene, just absolutely obscene.
So I don’t know if [00:20:00] that’s what made him move or what, but I mean, obviously, you know, you talk to all these drivers and hey, it’s always like the goal is or what the dream is always to drive Ferrari. I want to drive for Maranello, you know. And it’s just, it’s an experience like none other. I mean, I got, I, you know, could imagine, imagine the accesses of the cars you can get access to and the driving and everything you do on the extracurricular sides and just sponsorship, blah, blah, blah.
I mean, that’s just be phenomenal and awesome itself. But, um, for the 400, basically just under 450 million, something like that. I mean, it was just obscene amount of money that they’re throwing at this guy. Like I, and I don’t, I want to say that’s not all for our pain. I think that’s what’s all the other subsequent stuff like that.
But. The number I saw that was opposite I’ve seen it for what his duration there was contract is but with all those other stuff It’s like almost, you know, it’s close to half a billion dollars now How much he’s getting salarized drive the car. I don’t know I mean, I know like max is up there in the 40 some million dollar range [00:21:00] a year So, I mean, I’m assuming losers gonna be at least that so if not more But then you got all the extracurriculars and a lot of back end stuff Um, so I don’t know.
I mean, that’s just an obscene amount of money. Get paid to drive a car. I mean, God bless him. Have at it, you know, and you know, you’re set for life after that. And you’re still a young man. Well, I mean, you know, he’s in his forties, but I mean, it’s just phenomenal. I mean, it’s unbelievable. Good for him. Hey, you can get it.
Go get it. So, but again, how much motivations will be there? You know, you know, I’m hope that he gets there and you know, it’s, Tooling and whatnot. It reenergizes him. He comes out, man, just swinging, you know, he’s got the momentum Obviously, you know the car has got to be underneath him to be able to do it But again, so what do they do?
You know, obviously they build a car They try and build it also to the characteristics of the driver. You know, got some guys like understeer So I’m like oversteer, you know, so and some guys like to you know, turn in sharps or so I mean There’s all these different [00:22:00] things. So there’s a way you build the car and set up wise and whatnot.
You can kind of, you know, shape it to how the driver likes it. So when you’re building up a new car and the guy’s been there for me for a few years, I eat Charles Leclerc because that’s obviously to be their guy. Um, it’s gonna be kind of built around him. So I was like, so what’s the car going to be when he gets there in 2025?
Is it gonna behave what Charles Leclerc likes and how he likes to drive his car? You know, or what? Is he gonna be able to handle that? I mean, um, So I think that’s gonna be other biggest thing is okay. He gets in there. All right This is not gonna be till year two year three if he stays there, you know that He gets a car underneath him that you know, he he likes I mean, I don’t know There’s all these unknowns that you won’t know until 2025 race one, you know, obviously testing and whatnot They do that doesn’t tell you shit.
You know what they sandbag it through everything. They’re not going to show all their cards So I mean I always take that’s the Preseason testing stuff where they go to [00:23:00] Valencia or Barcelona or what the heck is in Spain, you know I always think that’s a great assault because you’re never gonna real see anyone’s true potential because they’re not going to show all their cards Well, especially the top teams.
They’re not going to show it because they’re just not gonna let that fly this the back marker teams What mid level teams? Yeah, they could probably go out there in Hawes But again, you got a large portion of these guys, you know between who’s in the middle there Then they got your drop off. You got your Williams and your Haas, you know, you got your back markers and everyone else is in the middle.
Then you got Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes at the top. So, again, it’s going to be an interesting season this year and how things play out. See what happens with Lewis and Mercedes. But, 2025, Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari. I’m curious about what everyone’s thoughts are. Make some comments, shoot some messages our way.
Tell me what you guys think about him going to Ferrari and seeing him in the red. Um, I’m, I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be a big change. I don’t know. [00:24:00] Charles is going to be ready for it because I could be a situation where Lewis is going to overshadow Charles or say Charles, um, anything. I’d like Charles to Claire.
I just think he’s, you know, yes, he can drive a car, but you know, I just don’t think he’s got the mental wherewithal to win an F1 championship. I just think he’s, you know, doesn’t have it. I mean, you’ve watched him race, whatnot. He has too many mental breaks, lapses, crashes, whatnot. Um, So, it’ll be interesting to see.
So, let me know your guys thoughts. Let me know what you think about Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari 2025. Again, thanks guys. This is the Ferrari Marketplace with William Ross, your host, presented on the Motoring Podcast Network, MPN. Till next time. Appreciate it guys. Have a good one.
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