Lewis Hamilton’s change to Ferrari is without doubt one of the most hyped storylines in F1 historical past.
For the reason that seven-time world champion’s blockbuster transfer from Mercedes to Ferrari was introduced final February, the F1 world has been salivating on the prospect of two of the game’s largest and most iconic names becoming a member of forces.
After narrowly lacking out on the constructors’ championship – and what would have been a primary world title since 2008 – to McLaren final time period, the ambition for Hamilton is obvious; assist Ferrari finish their lengthy trophy drought.
Hamilton would solely additional cement his standing as one of many biggest of all time if he might convey a drivers’ crown again to Maranello and turn into the primary driver since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 to take action.
Such an achievement would additionally see the 40-year-old clinch a record-breaking eighth world title, a feat which might put Hamilton one championship away from the legendary Michael Schumacher, who secured 5 of his seven crowns with Ferrari.
The narratives are tantalisingly laid out, however turning such objectives into actuality isn’t as easy because it seems on paper. Two fellow a number of world champions tried, and failed, to take action earlier than Hamilton.
Right here’s how Hamilton’s famous person predecessors acquired on at F1’s most well-known staff.
Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso joined Ferrari after an unsuccessful two-season stint at Renault within the hope of changing into the motive force to assist the Scuderia return to successful methods.
Having changed Raikkonen, Alonso’s Ferrari stint started with a direct near-title success.
The Spaniard managed to overtake a 47-point deficit to Sebastian Vettel and took the championship lead with victory in South Korea. Nonetheless, he was pipped by the Crimson Bull driver in agonising style on the last race in Abu Dhabi when he acquired caught behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov and couldn’t end increased than seventh after a strategic error by the staff.
Two years later, Alonso was again in title rivalry and as soon as once more up in opposition to his nemesis Vettel. Identical to in 2010, the title struggle went right down to the wire and Alonso was on the tip of a irritating defeat influenced by nice margins.
Fernando Alonso almost received two titles with Ferrari
Alonso had led the championship for a lot of the season regardless of having the fourth-fastest automotive. A late season purple patch from Crimson Bull and Vettel noticed the German snatch the title away from Alonso by three factors at a rain-socked title-decider in Brazil.
Had Alonso not been taken out by an out-of-control Romain Grosjean at Spa, or hit by Raikkonen at Suzuka, he would have been world champion for a 3rd time. Alonso additionally completed runner-up in 2013 however on this event Vettel and Crimson Bull had a dominant package deal and eased to the title within the second half of the season.
After changing into disillusioned with Ferrari’s failure to supply him with a aggressive automotive throughout a dreadful 2014 marketing campaign, and several other championship close to misses, Alonso give up Ferrari two years earlier than the tip of his contract to return to McLaren.
His substitute was four-time world champion Vettel, who arrived at Maranello off the again of successful 4 championships throughout the earlier 5 years.
Sebastian Vettel
Vettel joined Ferrari decided to succeed the place Alonso had not and observe within the footsteps of his childhood hero Schumacher by successful the title with the Prancing Horse.
Issues acquired off to a shiny sufficient begin in 2015 as Vettel claimed three victories and rapidly established himself as Ferrari’s primary driver, however he must wait till a regulation shake-up in 2017 earlier than the staff was ready to problem for the championship.
Ferrari had a quicker automotive than Mercedes for a lot of the 2017 season and Vettel held the early benefit as he and Hamilton usually traded blows. A second of insanity in Baku noticed Vettel throw away his probabilities of a win by pulling up alongside Hamilton and ramming his title rival underneath a Security Automotive, incomes himself a 10-second stop-go penalty.
Hamilton loved a supreme run of kind after the summer season break and Vettel’s title hopes suffered a large blow when he was taken out in Singapore, a race which proved a key turning level in 2017. Again-to-back reliability failures in Malaysia and Japan all however ended Vettel’s hopes earlier than Hamilton wrapped up title quantity 4 in Mexico Metropolis.
Sebastian Vettel crashes out from the lead in Germany 2018
2018 promised a lot for Ferrari and Vettel however he as soon as once more would come out second-best to Hamilton and Mercedes, regardless of Ferrari holding a major automotive benefit for a lot of the yr.
Vettel was undone by a collection of staff and driver errors, the largest of which occurred on dwelling soil in Germany when he crashed out from the lead and Hamilton accomplished a miraculous comeback victory from 14th. Hamilton was as soon as once more in imperious kind after the summer season break, whereas Vettel continued to crack in high-pressure moments. It was one other golden alternative that went begging.
The emergence of Ferrari protege Charles Leclerc in 2019 proved to be Vettel’s downfall on the staff. Ultimately, he was successfully compelled out as a consequence of a mix of Leclerc’s starring performances and his personal nosediving kind, which paved the way in which for a break up and Carlos Sainz’s arrival in 2021.
4 years later and it is going to be Hamilton’s flip to attempt to change Ferrari’s future. Will the Briton fare higher and make it third time fortunate for the Scuderia?