Jean Alesi believes Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari will be more seismic than Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel’s, and he doubts Michael Schumacher would have “wanted” the Briton as a team-mate.
After years of speculation and repeated denials, Hamilton has finally made the surprising decision to switch teams.
Despite signing a two-year extension just last August, he recently chose to exercise his option to leave after completing just one year with Mercedes. As a result, he will be donning the iconic red of Ferrari starting from 2025, as he has inked a multi-year contract with the Italian team.
Jean Alesi predicts ‘electrifying adventure’ when Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari
In recent years, Ferrari has seen a few World Champions join their team. Alonso made the move in 2010, while Vettel switched from Red Bull to Ferrari in 2015.
However, neither of them were able to claim the ultimate success of winning the World title.
The last World Champion to join Ferrari and achieve this feat was the legendary Schumacher.
He joined the team in 1996 and went on to win five consecutive Drivers’ Championship titles from 2000 to 2004, marking Ferrari’s most successful period in Formula 1.
Alesi is confident that Hamilton has the ability to bring Ferrari back to their former glory.
He believes that Hamilton possesses the same depth of personality and charisma as Schumacher. Alesi acknowledges the achievements of Alonso and Vettel, but he believes Hamilton’s arrival will bring an electrifying adventure that will capture universal interest.
The loyal Tifosi will need to adjust from seeing Hamilton as an adversary to embracing him as a hero.
Apart from the overwhelming attention given to Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari should have treated Carlos Sainz more fairly.
In 1995, Alesi achieved his only Formula 1 victory with Ferrari at the Canadian Grand Prix. However, he departed for Benetton the following year when Ferrari made significant changes to their lineup, bringing in Schumacher and Eddie Irvine.
Right from the start, it was evident that Irvine was meant to support Schumacher, as reportedly stated in the German driver’s contract.
Considering this, Alesi believes he wouldn’t have been content with having a teammate like Hamilton.
According to his statement, it is clear that Michael Schumacher would not have wanted Lewis Hamilton to be a part of his team.
This news of Hamilton joining Ferrari is unfortunate for Carlos Sainz, as he has been dropped by the team. Interestingly, just a week before Hamilton’s announcement, Charles Leclerc had signed a long-term deal with Ferrari.
Sainz has been rumored to be considered by Mercedes as a potential replacement for Hamilton, while Sauber, Aston Martin, and Williams are also said to be options for him.
Alesi has expressed his dissatisfaction with Ferrari’s handling of the situation, stating that Sainz, a true gentleman of motorsports, is currently in an uncomfortable and undeserved position.
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