P1 with Matt and Tommy - Our reaction to Lewis Hamilton JOINING FERRARI in 2025!

Episode Date: February 1, 2024

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everybody and welcome back to the P1 podcast with Matt and Tommy. My God, I've never felt more, more, just all over the place. I don't know what's going on. Tommy, what is happening? This is the emergency podcast of all emergency podcasts. I cannot believe we're here. We've literally just recorded a predictions video where we didn't even mention about Lewis Hamilton and George Russell or Mercedes because they were locked in.

And of course, a few days later, it's like, okay, biggest bombshell in Formula One history. I can't, I can't get over this. I can't get over this. Lewis Hamilton is joining Ferrari in 2025. It doesn't sound real. Even as you're saying it. Are we awake right now? Am I going to just be like, that was a, God, that was, genuinely, I would think this was a weird dream.

I'd be like, Tommy, you never guessed what I dreamt of last night. Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari. Oh, shut up, Matt. Do you have some cheese before you went to bed? You know what I mean? Like that? What's coming on? I don't know what's going on,

especially because we hyped up silly season this year and all the driver contracts are out of contract and then Charles gets announced at the same team. Lando gets announced at the same team and we were going, oh God, it's going to be the same, isn't it? But no, Hamilton drops the chaos bomb of all chaos bombs and oh my words. It still can't compute in my brain

that this is happening. It is probably the most exciting, insane Formula One news ever, maybe. I literally can't remember a crazier moment in terms of like silly season. It's absolutely mad.

It doesn't feel real. Like this does not feel tangible. You see the announcement and you're just like, huh? Huh? Yeah, the driver that, was not, we've had these rumours before, especially like Hamilton joining Ferrari, it's always

been a thing. So every time it comes up, you go, nah. Yeah, because it has been rumoured before, hasn't it? Many times, he's got a close relationship with Ferrari. He likes Ferrari, he buys, you know, he's bought Ferrari cars before and he knows the president of Ferrari and things like that. But you always just go, oh, this is just silly season rumours trying to get a story. And then it's like, oh, it's being reported here, it's being reported here, it's being reported here, it's like, this is happening, oh my God, and this is unbelievable. I can't, it is just the most insane news ever is mad. And this is how I know deep down that I love Formula One to the absolute core of my being

because I see that news and then just like running around the house, like, what do I do? Like, we're texting each other, like, what happens now, Tommy? Like, not only how much. Hamilton joining Ferrari, but then how does the domino effect? Is this the small domino? And then the big domino is, I don't know, Nicholas Latifie returns. What's going to be the end thing here? Because clearly this is not just going to be a one-move thing.

This is going to cause chaos. Utter chaos. This is, what it reminds me of is, and it's also a similar time that when, if you remember the COVID year where we didn't actually. start the season until later on. And it was announced that Sebastian Vetter was leaving Ferrari, and that caused a big domino effect. But it was for the year after, before the season had even started. And that is the crazy thing, that Hamilton is joining Ferrari. That is absolutely mind-blowing, but we're going into this season, and he will be driving for Mercedes still. That, to me,

is crazy. It's not even like it's happened halfway through the season. It's like, oh, okay, we've got another whole year of this, the constant rumours, you know, what if Mercedes are good, what if Ferrari get bad, like, has he made the right choice? It's going to be crazy. And then, like you say, this is just going to be the domino effect that just causes absolute carnage. So I think on that point, let's dissect what you just said there, because why now, that is a really good question, which I don't think is actually in our list of questions. Someone did say why now. Luke up high. Why before we've even seen the 2020? Let me read that out then. Lookup High comes in with why before we even see the

2024 car? Wouldn't Hamilton at least wait to see if Mercedes made a step forward before thinking about a move to Ferrari? It's a very good point. He's given up on Mercedes before he's even seen the car roll out in 2024. And you would think Lewis Hamilton, the statistical greatest of all time, has the flexibility to decide when he wants to go, you know, at whatever. point of pleasing that he desires, right? Like, you would think Ferrari would take him halfway through the 2024 season. What I'm wondering is whether there is a chain of events going on here where Hamilton's had to decide sooner than perhaps ideal.

Because from a business perspective, from a driver's perspective, it doesn't make all that much sense. He hasn't even had testing and he's gone, nope, I'm done. No, all good. Especially as well when you hear these murmurs of, oh, well, the first time in three years, the car actually, it was drivable on the simulator, says Anthony Davidson. And it's like, Hamilton's gone. No, I don't believe you. I'm out.

Yeah, it's crazy. The only thing that springs to mind is potentially the fact that Charlerc has locked in this big contract with Ferrari, of course, and Sainz hadn't yet. So maybe it was that case of like, if Hamilton wanted to do this, it has to be now. Like, it is literally a like, take the list. leap now because science hasn't signed and we'll get into science later because this is going to be another fascinating kind of aspect to it. But maybe that is it that science hadn't signed yet. So it was literally like Hamilton could have these talks now. That's one side of it. The other side of it is that my word, what is that W14 like that Hamilton sat in it and gone?

Peace. I'm off. I don't think it would be that bad, but it can't be a great car. He must be judging it from his previous experiences and going, well, they can't have changed it that much because we haven't had the regulation changes yet. So clearly Hamilton doesn't think that they can close the chasm between themselves and Red Bull before 2025. So instead he's gone, well, you know what? I've always wanted to be in red overalls. Exactly.

It's the last roll of a dice. he's not he's not got loads of time left maybe he will stay for a bit longer and maybe he will want to see till 2026 but yeah we all we were I think everyone was mentally prepared that Hamilton would end his career at Mercedes it just seemed so certain and for him to to take that switch now is mind-blowing and so unbelievably exciting as well now now Now, Tommy, I want to, I know it's usually fan questions that we read out, but I want to submit my own question, which is, so Matt P1 Gallagher comes in with what's going to happen to LeCleur. That's a very good point. Because Ferrari have, you know, stated and been very clear that LeClaire is the golden boy.

He is the number one, kind of. I mean, Ferrari haven't exactly executed the greatest of strategies with him. But we all believe that LeClaire was the one that Ferrari were channeling all their resources into to make sure that he stays for as long as possible to win world championships. And now Lewis Hamilton's joining the team. And Lewis Hamilton is not a number two driver. Now, on one side of me being a massive LeCleur fan, I am so excited to see how those two stack up against each other in a team.

Like, I am so unbelievably. Peggy 18 at thinking about that, right? But on the flip side, I am scared. I am absolutely petrified that Lewis Hamilton's going to come in and just wipe the floor with Charles and I then worry about what the future might look like. But that's just the pessimism inside of me. It does make you wonder, like, I personally think that Charles has the talent. to be able to compete with Hamilton.

I'm not saying he's a better driver than Hamilton, but he is so unbelievably quick. I think he's one of the best drivers in Formula One. So he has what it takes, but apart from your side, you've got to think what Charles's thinking, that he's just signed this massive new contract with Ferrari, and then they're like, right, your teammate is now seven-time world champion

Louis Hamilton. And he's like, oh, my God. okay because because it would regardless of how much you back yourself you are then like well they have signed the most legendary Formula One driver of this era you know a huge star he's not there to be my number two driver is he

like he's going to want he's come to win the world championship but I want to win the world championship for Ferrari this is like my dream. And that whole dynamic has completely flipped. Like it's insane. So there's a dynamic that you have been constantly bringing up on the podcast around Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. And if they have a championship winning car,

they will take points off of each other. We then go to Lewis Hamilton with Charles Leclair, which I think is even stronger in some senses because of Charles' love for Ferrari and wanting to win a world title with them. And then, of course, Hamilton wanting to get that eighth. That could be, as much as Charles is, you know, a very nice, polite human being, you do wonder whether there will be that clash between the two of them,

where both of their ambitions just collide. And it absolutely petrifies me. I know I said like Lewis Hamilton wiping the floor with him, but I don't believe he'll do it. I think that Shaal will be there with him and, you know, delusion, whatever. But I still believe Charles has the talent, especially in the real estate, especially in the races. We've seen that time and time again.

And also, of course, in qualifying, he is an outstanding qualifier. But there is something that really concerns me that Ferrari have found something, which is great. They've sold Hamilton the dream. Hamilton joins, wins the eighth world title, and Charlotte Clover finally has a world title winning car and doesn't win the world championship.

I would internally combust. Yeah, it's so true. Like, it is absolutely insane that, yeah, You can't even claim that Hamilton has left because he's scared of George Russell, which of course there's no chance. That's the case because he was so good and wiped the floor with him really last year. And they had their moments where they were like colliding. And I did say that it's an interesting narrative where George is the future of that team.

How long do they keep pushing it with Hamilton? Now that whole problem has gone to Ferrari where you've got the young, up-and-coming talent who has shown that he can win races, he's so loyal to Ferrari, but then you've got, you've got this. It's absolutely crazy. It's such a bonkers move for so many reasons. I absolutely love it. I am one of these people that have always wanted to see Los Helmson join Ferrari. I think it's just such an exciting thing to see one of the greatest of all time and one of the most legendary drivers

probably like, arguably like top two or three, if not the most legendary Formula One driver ever with the most legendary team ever is... With the most legendary up-and-coming world champion in Charlotte Clare. But like what a combination and that is probably why he's gone for it. He has been lured in by the love of Ferrari. Like, it shows that for all the memes and the jokes about,

ha-ha, clown strategy, all this, Ferrari can still bring in a driver like that because they're Ferrari. There's something about it. They are just, you know, look what Vettel did. Like, he went there, Alonzee went there, Michael Schoenacher went there. And those have had great times. Yeah, well, exactly. And yeah, you can argue that that.

Schumacher went, it went really well, but the other two, like Alonzo and Vetter went, it didn't work out. But Hamilton's seen that and he's still like, yeah, I want to drive for Ferrari. It just shows the pull they have. I've actually realized what the, I reckon, the last bit of pull that was necessary for Hamilton to join Ferrari. Do you know what it is? Company car?

No. Well, that. But also, I think Hamilton looked last year and saw just how much fun Carlos Sines and Charlotte Clare had when they did the alphabet game with us. So I think Hamilton wants a piece of that. He does.

I think he saw that, you know, he's going to get an opportunity to potentially film with P1 and gone, that's it. He wants to do an hour podcast with us where we talk about his hair in a Zambort hotel. That is clearly the reason.

Yeah, absolutely. Right, next question. Let's go with O2 Rachel Dillard. Who would Ferrari base their car on? Seven-time world champion or possible future world champion? Now, I think this particular question is obviously slightly looking at, hey, what Red Bull do with Max Verstappen and all that good stuff,

even though Alex Albon very eloquently explained that it's kind of based on Max Verstappen, but not as much as everyone says, and it's not like nobody else can drive the car. It's just that if you're the fastest driver, you are going to get preferential, development paths and that sort of stuff. Hamilton can't just join and be like, I like it like this. And then they go, Ferrari go, oh God, drop all the tools. We need to change everything to what Hamilton likes.

I don't necessarily see that. Charle, of course, is the one that's bedded in. And Ferrari are just going to build a car. And then depending on how long Hamilton decides to stay at Ferrari, there may well be a shape in it, depending on how well they do. So I think it is very much based upon who is doing the best. because I know for a fact Ferrari won't make a decision

on who they're going to actually back in this scenario because I can imagine they have a board meeting and they go, right, we've signed Lewis Hamilton. And then they all just sit around and go, so who do we want to win now then? Yeah, they just see, I think there is like, I wonder how much of it from the other side. Like I said, that Hamilton sees that legendary Ferrari status

and wants to, once a bit of that, the other side, Ferrari still want that kind of like, we're the biggest team in Formula One, we can get Lewis Hamilton on board. And they've not really thought it through properly. It's kind of like, you know, signing the two best football players in the world that play in the same position or something.

And you're like, this is great on paper, but what do we do now where you kind of want that? But then you go, is this going to work? So yeah, it's going to be fascinating to see if they do that. We've seen before that, say, 22, Carlos Sainz struggled with how the car was going. It was suited child down to the ground. Then Carlos got more confident. Then there was that bit in the middle of the season last year where Sainz was looking like the absolute goat and performing really well.

So it would be fascinating to see which direction they go in. but for me Hamilton is one of, if not the best driver in terms of adaptability, the fact that he's gone through so many eras. Is Tim LH listening to this? Because Tommy is gassing Hamilton up, though tomorrow in this podcast. So just write it down, okay? Most legendary, most adaptable. Like this man, you're getting ready for a shell video with him,

aren't you, with the alphabet challenge? I see it already, Tommy. But he is the most, like, I know he's not won in this new era, but like we've mentioned many times, not many people have. But he has adapted every year from like when he started to them completely changing the cars in like 2009. And he won again. And then they changed it again to like the hybrids. And he won again.

And they changed it to wider cars. And he won again. And he has shown himself to be able. to adapt to these cars. So that's why I think that whatever the Ferrari is like, Hamilton will be able to drive it and get the best out of it. So yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be so fascinating to see how they, how it goes down because the fact that they now have this driver dynamic,

the one I mentioned so many times about the problem with George Russell and Hamilton being teammates, it's now just shifted to Ferrari. and now we see, is Hamilton's idea literally the fact that he's going to give it a couple more years? I don't think this is the case, and I'm sure you're going to say exactly the same, that no way, is this the case. But two more years, I've driven for Ferrari. Goodbye. No, but he's driven for Ferrari and he's kind of ticked that off his F1 bucket list and he goes. He's going to win a championship.

I think that's the bare minimum is I've gone to Ferrari. I've driven something I've always wanted to do. And then upwards from that is winning and world titles. Now, something that, you know, I'm really interested to see is how Hamilton, firstly, copes with integrating into an Italian Formula One team, which is something that is not the easiest thing in the world to do. You know, they, Ferrari expect you to relocate and all this sort of stuff and, you know, try and embed yourself in a team like Ferrari.

But also, how is he going to cope when he has a 12-second pitstop at Hungary? or how is he going to cope when they don't pit him for hard tires at the end of a race at Silverstone? What I think he's going to do is he's going to pit anyway. That's what I'm really interested to see is can Hamilton tidy up the areas

where Ferrari are lacking and have been lacking? And this is what we've discussed before if like a Vastappan went there or a Hamilton, oh my God, it's happening. It still doesn't feel real. But having someone like Hamilton go into Ferrari, I feel like he genuinely will just tie the loose knots and just figure stuff out.

And he could win another five world titles with Ferrari. Probably not going to happen. But we are going to see what it's potentially like for a Ferrari to actually work well, maybe. Fingers crossed. Yeah. Yeah. Like you said, we've had those discussions of like maybe Ferrari need to go back to the Schumacher era where someone comes in and they demand it. like charler-clair is an unbelievable driver like i've said many times on this podcast uh and you have said many times on this podcast but his one but his one slight flaw is that he's maybe too much of a

nice guy and he will come into the pits and yeah he will just be like yeah great whereas things that come to mind is um you know where uh there there were moments where hamilton was going to I think pit for fastest lap in one of the races and he knew his tyres were worn and he remembered back in like China 2007 when he rolled into the pits. And he thinks about things like that. And that's the kind of thing I think that could really help Ferrari

where they go, you need to pit for Interest. And Hamilton would be the kind of ballsy driver that goes, I'm the driver. I know exactly what these tires are doing. This is what we should be doing. And he just does it. And that is something that I think Ferrari desperately need. And to be fair, it's what Carlos has done every now and then.

But Carlos has always been like maybe not as quick as Charles, but he's maybe got the brain power to like more of that racing mind. Brain power is savage. I think it's more just the fact that he is more savage. I think that's probably more the case. Yeah, he's like, he's more brutal. He has a very high functioning brain, Tommy. And brain power is...

Sorry, you know what I meant. I know what you mean. I just wanted to cover that one off. My God. I'm not calling Charlotte Claire stupid, even though he himself calls himself stupid. But yeah, I'm saying that, yeah, he would basically be more ruthless than be like, no, this is what we're doing.

And to have a quick driver like that and in that situation, yeah, that's why he's been so hard to be. That's why he's won later world championship. So it's going to be exciting. But of course, it does mean that Carlos is, well, what happens to Carlos? Well, yeah, that's a great question, Tommy. That is a question from Misa Iwaki. What's happening to Carlos?

A big question. We have just done our 2025 driver team predictions. And I feel like Tommy might be on to something now because I thought he'd stay for another year. And perhaps he was going to had Hamilton decided, actually I want to come. As of recording right now, we don't know what's happening to Carlos. We also don't know who's joining Mercedes,

so we're going to discuss that now. And for Carlos, do you just see it being the route that you expected now, Tommy? I do. There is, of course, now the fact that that's happened, there is a possibility that it could just be a straight swap for Mercedes. I do wonder if Mercedes now with these rumours and how much maybe they've been blindsided because from what we've seen on Twitter,

this has happened very quickly. It's been like, oh, I think this is happening to, oh my God, it's happening. So you've got to think that normally these things appear out with constant rumours for weeks and weeks and weeks and then it happens. So you've got to think that Mercedes surely didn't know that this was going to happen this quickly.

They surely don't have a driver locked in already. And with these Formula One teams, they always like to do it where they like to save themselves the blushes, even if it maybe is quite a snap decision. They're like, oh, we don't want to look silly that Hamilton's left. We want to almost announce first, blah, blah, blah to Mercedes and things like that. So I think there is a possibility for Carlos to go there because it would be that he's a great driver. I think he'd work very well with George Russell actually.

It'd be a quick driver pairing. However, I do think Carlos is best bet. is to build that Audi team around him. And now he's got that perfect opportunity to do that where... To go and drive for Ferrari. To drive an S-box for a year. Hope Audi build the engine of all engines for the new engine regs in 2026. And he's laughing like Lewis Hamilton did in 2014,

that he's got a car that's five seconds quicker than everyone else. I don't know if that's necessarily going to happen. But it's a gamble worth doing, I think. But then, of course, that is thrilling, because if he does, I kind of want him to do that because it also leaves a slot Mercedes and then the puzzle just keeps, the dominoes just keep falling and it's like another change, another change, another change. And we can constantly be like excited for drivers just going everywhere.

Exactly. And I guess, you know, makes, I wouldn't say the most sense from a Carlos Science perspective, as I kind of argued that I just think it'd be a waste of a year for him to go into a car that's not going to be anything like the new regulations that we have. in 2026. Yeah, he'd embed himself in the team, but realistically, I don't think that's a huge advantage and probably will feel like a missed year for Carlos.

But maybe that's the only route he has now because I can't, there makes no sense for a straight swap, especially if Carlos has his site set at Audi for 2026, why would you go to Mercedes for a year? It's a waste for Mercedes and it's a waste for Carlos because you're putting resources into a driver that's not going to stay. So for me, I know that there's one man. There is one man that is sat here with or without a cigar.

I don't know, it just feels like it kind of, the image just, he's a boss. Is Mr. Fernando Alonzo just sitting back quietly looking at all of this drama? Because he loves a bit of transfer driver market silly season drama. And he will, at any point, burn a contract to go somewhere else. I genuinely think Alonzo will go to Mercedes. That would be wild. We're going to have to do our silly season again, aren't we? Yeah.

Our predictions are finished now, mate. But why not? Why not? Because surely you want, Mercedes want a driver that is performing at the absolute top notch. If you have Carlos Sines go there, one, it's a waste. And two, Carlos Sines and George Russell,

are you extracting the absolute thousandth out of that car. I would say not, if you compare it to Fernando Alonzo. Fernando Alonzo was a top three driver last year. We saw incredible performances from him. Why not? What a move that would be for Alonzo? I'm sure he has in his contract with Aston,

if it's rubbish, then I can leave. Or maybe if he hasn't won or something, there must be something to get Alonzo out there. He's the burner of all bridges. He knows how to get out of contracts. I see it. I genuinely would love to see. Because Alonzo and Russell,

they get on so well as well. They do, yeah. They're like besties. They're playing ping pong on private jets. I think Fernando will genuinely go to Mercedes. Oh my God. This silly season is the goat. I'm so excited.

I just can't wait to see how it's going to pan out. That is a good theory. I think the options for me of if science does go to stake, I see it between Ocon, Albon and, yeah, maybe Alonzo is a good shout. It all depends what Mercedes want to do of, like we said, that Ferrari now have this problem, but is it Mercedes now, is it their chance to basically go, right, George is the Golden Boy now, put someone in that's going to grow with him, you could argue Espan Okon and a teammate is not the best idea.

Ocon needs his own Formula One team. It's just him driving. Ockon on one driver team, yeah. But Alex Albon, maybe. He's definitely a show as well. He'd be a great number two driver to George, no disrespect to Albin. I think he'd be quick.

He wouldn't be like complete. number two driver, but I think he'd be that good level where he wouldn't, it wouldn't be too chaotic and they're good mates as well, so. What I would say, Tommy, is, and I mean no disrespect to GR 63, has he proved he is the golden boy for Mercedes moving forward? Because for me, he's had some standout performances. Of course, he won at Brazil. He's one of the only drivers to have won in the last couple of years. but he's also had a very lackluster season last year in particular. So for me, Mercedes, when you look at, you know, when you look at the results,

of course he beat Hamilton the year before, but of course, TMLH will argue that to the hills that there was reliability and testing new setups for the rubbish car and that sort of stuff. So for me, I don't think that Mercedes are in the position to go, yes, George, you are our future, you are our next 10 world, 10 times. world champion. So that's why I'm entertaining the fact that I think Alonzo would, I think Alonzo would be a fantastic, just for a year or two, warm that seat up for Kimmy Antonelli, and then you're

absolutely flying. Oh, trust me. I feel like that is the future. But as of right now, I think Alonzo has a couple of years, gets a few wins, maybe even a world championship if Mercedes sought their life out. And my God, Formula One be a better place for it. And also, you've got to think, with the greatest respect to someone like Alex Alburn, or Ocon or someone.

Formula One, management and stuff, it's a game of egos. And like I mentioned earlier, Mercedes, are going to be embarrassed that Lewis Hamilton has left that team. A legendary driver like Lewis Hamilton has left them. It doesn't believe in them.

And what better way to be like, flex your muscles than be like, we've got Alonzo. Like that is a big statement to be like, we've got Fernando Alonzo. whereas Alex Albin, he's had a fantastic year, he's been really, really good, but it's not like you're out your seat like, oh my God, Alex Albin's gone there.

Whereas Alonzo is like huge PR, like, oh my God, Alonzo's gone to Mercedes, it's massive. Like they are a huge manufacturer that have just lost the most commercially, you know, most commercial driver the sport's ever seen. And they're going to want to replace him with someone massive. So, yeah, Alonzo does, the more we're talking about it, Alonzo does make more sense. Oh my God, I love that one. I know.

Genuinely, the 2024 preseason has been better than 2023, the whole of it. Oh, what a year already. Oh, my God. I am like, oh, now I'm like, why can't this be now? I know. Why do we have to wait a year to see Hamilton at Ferrari? Just saying out loud How is that real?

Like that's not real. I can't. We could genuinely talk about this for 15 hours, I think. And I think we will also do another video slash podcast just kind of talking about the whole connotations of what is this move genuinely going to do to the whole driver market. We're going to maybe let the dust settle slightly with this one

just to kind of figure out what is actually going on. But Tommy, unless you have anything else to add, give me your final thoughts. My final thoughts are just thank you the silly season gods. We were starved last season and you've dropped the greatest one in the history of Formula One

so thank you. Yep, I would say similarly I am so excited to see Hamilton at Ferrari. I think that it's going to be an insane partnership between him and LeClair and I just really pray that I don't know. I'm on side. I'm like, I really want Ferrari to be really, really good. But secondly, I want Charles to get a World Championship. So that's going to be a conversation later down the line, I think.

But anyway, we'll get on to that one. Am I going to cry or am I going to be happy? We'll have to find out. See you soon, everybody. Lots of love. Bye.