Ex-Ferrari Chief Casts Doubt on Hamilton Signing After Winless Debut Season

Former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has openly questioned whether he would have signed Lewis Hamilton for the Scuderia, acknowledging the immense pressure of integrating a driver of his stature after the Briton's winless debut season with the team. Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish in 2024 while significantly trailing teammate Charles Leclerc in the standings, casting doubt on Ferrari's bold decision to replace Carlos Sainz with the seven-time world champion.

Why it matters:

This critique from a former Ferrari leadership figure cuts to the core of the team's strategic missteps during a critical rebuilding phase. Ferrari's decision to prioritize Hamilton's star power over Sainz's proven consistency represented a high-risk gamble to accelerate their return to dominance—a gamble that has backfired spectacularly. Arrivabene's comments underscore the uncomfortable reality that signing an all-time great requires more than just star appeal; it demands a car capable of unlocking that greatness, something Maranello failed to deliver in 2024.

The details:

• Arrivabene explicitly stated: "I honestly don’t know if I ever would have signed him." He emphasized that while it's easy to critique after a difficult season, the true challenge lies in providing the necessary support structure for a driver of Hamilton's caliber.
• Team Responsibility: "You can’t just assume that he’ll show up — even as a world champion — and magically change everything," Arrivabene stressed. "You have to give him a competitive car and the conditions to do his job. You need real guarantees and you have to feel the weight of that responsibility."
• Newey Preference: When asked whether he'd choose Adrian Newey over Hamilton, Arrivabene responded without hesitation: "Yes. I’d have taken him without a second thought," highlighting the technical leadership vacuum Ferrari still faces.
• Performance Reality: Hamilton's season included three consecutive Q1 eliminations—a first in his career—and an eighth-place finish in Abu Dhabi despite a late-race recovery. Meanwhile, Leclerc consistently challenged for podiums, finishing just shy of third in the season finale while pressuring world champion Lando Norris.

Looking ahead:

Hamilton's decision to go "completely unplugged from the Matrix" during the winter break signals his recognition of the need for reset after a career-worst season. For Ferrari, the 2025 season becomes a make-or-break year where both the car's performance and Hamilton's adaptation will face relentless scrutiny.

• Technical director Enrico Cardile's departure creates additional uncertainty about the team's ability to deliver the competitive package Hamilton requires.
• The pressure now shifts to new leadership to prove Hamilton's struggles were primarily car-related rather than indicative of his diminished capabilities.
• If Ferrari fails to close the performance gap with Red Bull and McLaren in 2025, the Hamilton signing could be remembered as one of F1's most expensive miscalculations—potentially altering how teams evaluate legacy drivers in their twilight years.