Lewis Hamilton is reportedly set to make a shock move to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
Ralf Schumacher has said that Lewis Hamilton “maybe just wants his dream” following the shock news that the British driver will join Ferrari in 2025. Hamilton is currently tied with Ralf’s brother Michael on a record seven F1 world titles, and with Mercedes continuing to struggle amid the new era of rules and regulations, looks set to try and emulate the German icon by succeeding with the Scuderia.
After two world crowns with Benetton, five of Schumacher’s titles came with the Italian giants. But not since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 have Ferrari laid claim to a drivers’ title, with the pending signing of Hamilton perceived as the best way to challenge the dominance of current front runner Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
And speaking to Sky Sports, Ralf insisted Hamilton’s proposed move wasn’t just a case of fulfilling an ambition to follow in the footsteps of his elder sibling: “Yeah that might be one thing but for whatever reason, Lewis maybe just wants his dream. I don’t know, I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t think he is doing it because of Michael.
“I think it’s because Ferrari is one of the places to be in history of Formula One and especially for a driver like Lewis who has achieved almost everything and who is very unlucky not to be an eight-time world champion. I think for him it’s just the dot on the i to make it perfect.”
Hamilton, 39, only penned a new two year deal with Mercedes in the summer, which was set to see how race for the team beyond his 40th birthday. But Schumacher Jnr also claimed that triumphing with Ferrari would carry greater weight than his wins with Mercedes.
And he cited Sebastian Vettel, who struggled with Ferrari after winning four titles with Red Bull, as an example. But he argued that the team around Hamilton if he made the move would also be a defining factor.
“One title with Ferrari means more than elsewhere,” he added. “Yes it’s true but look at Sebastian Vettel, I know UK people were not so supportive sometimes of him, but it’s not only the drivers it’s the people around it, the key people like Mercedes a while ago, like there are at Red Bull at present. This surrounding you need as a driver to perform at all of the teams.”
It’s fair to say that the 48-year-old might have a vested interest in the situation. His nephew Mick Schumacher currently serves as a reserve driver with the Silver Arrows, and any potential exit for Hamilton may open the door for him to return to the grid after leaving Haas in 2022.
And he thinks that Toto Wolff’s tendency to sign up young drivers with bright future’s could work in Mick’s favour. “There’s some other drivers around like Carlos Sainz but I think he will end up at Audi eventually so that’s not an option,” he added
He still has a very young driver (George Russell) in his contract and we will see how he develops. Mick for sure can have a chance but they still have time.”
