Ferrari former driver drops bombshell: "Nobody wanted Hamilton at Maranello"

09:15, 18 Aug

Updated: 09:45, 18 Aug

byPietro Vurro

Arturo Merzario, former Ferrari driver and Niki Lauda life's saver at Nurburgring, has given a candid take on Lewis Hamilton’s stint at Ferrari, suggesting the seven-time world champion is waiting for the right moment to make his move but nobody really wanted him at Maranello.

"It's not over," Merzario insisted to Gazzetta dello Sport. "He is just waiting for the right opportunity. He will only risk when necessary, not for an eighth position." He added that if Hamilton ever wanted to leave, "he would find another team," highlighting the driver’s undeniable value. By contrast, Merzario remarked, "It's not Charles Leclerc's situation: Charles still has to prove that he is a champion."

Merzario says that Hamilton was only a commercial move

On Hamilton’s move to Maranello, Merzario was critical: "In my opinion, Hamilton's arrival in Maranello was a commercial operation. 90% of Ferrari insiders disagreed, at least as far as I know." Maybe at Maranello weren't so wrong because Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Ferrari has been a tough adjustment. Despite high expectations, the seven-time world champion failed to secure a podium, with his only notable results being a sprint race win and a pole position in China. The Scuderia’s car proved challenging to master, and integrating into the team’s dynamics took time. Hamilton showed flashes of speed and experience, but consistency was lacking, highlighting the steep learning curve even for a driver of his caliber. While results have been below expectations, the season offered insights into the challenges of adapting to Ferrari’s environment.

He explained that when a driver "does not feel valued or an integral part of the group to achieve a goal, he loses motivation," asking rhetorically, "Why go crazy to gain three tenths while still remaining on the third row?"

Merzario also commented on Hamilton’s recent reactions: "I think his outburst was ironic in some respects. Certainly his position was not what a seven-time world champion could imagine. Rather, it seems to me that Lewis is feeling 'demolished' by Ferrari."