Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari: Was Lewis Hamilton close to replacing Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari: Was the reigning champion close to joining Ferrari next season, and will he ever race for the iconic team?

With the seventh world title done and dusted, the question is if and when Lewis Hamilton will extend his Mercedes contract. But if there’s one thing this silly season has taught us, anything is possible. No one could have expected Sebastian Vettel to be shown the door at Ferrari, and be replaced by Carlos Sainz.

What’s even more interesting is that there was speculation of Lewis Hamilton replacing Vettel at the ‘Prancing Horses’. But in a conversation with the Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hamilton clarified they were just preliminary, casual discussions, and nothing concrete ever came out of it.

“It was never really close.”

“We talked on occasion, but we didn’t go beyond understanding what options were on the table, and they weren’t the right ones. Our positions have never aligned, I think timing matters, and things happen in the end for a reason: in recent seasons my contract always expired in years different from that of all the other drivers”.

Ferrari is a dream for me – Lewis Hamilton

The Brit has great admiration for the Ferrari brand, even going to Maranello to buy the iconic red. He considers it to be a dream move for any F1 driver, but realistically speaking, it cannot happen for the next year or so, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz expected to lead a turnaround after an extremely poor and winless last decade for the tifosi.

“If you look at all drivers who have driven for Ferrari, obviously it’s an incredible team and obviously the car’s always beautiful red. I have got red on my helmet. Red is the color of passion or love or whatever you want to say.

“It’s definitely a dream for every driver, including me.”

Also read: “I don’t want to drop a date” – Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff coy about Lewis Hamilton’s contract extension