Lewis Hamilton’s entry at Ferrari, according to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, is substantially different from Michael Schumacher’s in the mid-1990s.
At the conclusion of this season, the seven-time F1 World Champion will join the Scuderia from Mercedes, the team that Michael Schumacher won five of his seven titles with in the early 2000s.
Stefano Domenicali pinpoints Lewis Hamilton Ferrari difference
One major difference between the moves made by the two most successful drivers in F1 history is that, in Schumacher’s case, he moved to Ferrari with just two titles to his name – sealing his legendary status with five consecutive titles between 2000 and ’04.
Hamilton switches to the Scuderia with seven titles already to his name, but with the similar challenge of helping restore Ferrari to the very top of F1 as they bid to topple Red Bull from their title-winning perch.
Former Ferrari team boss and current F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has first-hand experience of working alongside Schumacher within a team, and said he sees further differences between the Ferrari of Schumacher’s era and what Hamilton will be arriving to.
Asked by Italy’s Leo Turrini for Stefano Domenicali whether or not Hamilton could become Ferrari’s next Schumacher, Domenicali said: “Yes, but for sure there is a difference and I am not referring to age, although Michael on his arrival in Italy was much younger.”
As for what that difference is, Domenicali said the dynamic Hamilton will have with his team-mate is vastly at odds with what Schumacher’s arrangement was.
“Schumi was the absolute dominus, Irvine was avowedly a number two,” he said.
“Lewis will have to play with someone like [Charles] Leclerc, who will never accept wingman duties.”
Domenicali also has no doubts that Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur will have no problems keeping his two alpha drivers under control: “I think Fred is perfectly capable of handling a situation that he first helped determine.”Not unexpectedly, Carlos is the current market leader and a [great driver].
“He’ll locate a configuration that complements his attributes. However, Ferrari has done a fantastic job with Hamilton, not just in terms of marketing. It is merely a strategic decision.
