End of an Era: Why F1’s Dream Team of Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Newey Will Never Materialize

The F1 super-team dream is over: Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Newey

It's improbable that Lewis Hamilton will ever collaborate with Adrian Newey

The announcement of Adrian Newey's transfer to Aston Martin definitively eliminates any possibility of Formula 1's top designer collaborating with its most accomplished driver, Lewis Hamilton.

In 2023, Newey mentioned on F1's Beyond the Grid podcast that he would regret not having the chance to work for Ferrari or collaborate with Hamilton during his career.

He responded, "I suppose, to some extent, yes, emotionally speaking."

"Collaborating with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton would have been amazing, but it never came to pass. Sometimes, it's just a matter of circumstances."

Newey's choice to move to Aston Martin in 2025 has dashed the hopes of F1 enthusiasts who were eager to see a "super-team" consisting of Newey, Hamilton, and Ferrari come together.

Considering the impressive histories of both Newey and Hamilton, it could have been an exciting opportunity and a grand finale before they both retire.

Hamilton stands as the most accomplished driver in the sport, boasting seven F1 world championships and 105 race wins.

Vehicles crafted by Newey have achieved an impressive 12 constructors' championships and 13 drivers' championships, marking an unmatched record for a designer in Formula 1.

Why did Hamilton and Newey never collaborate?

Although they competed during the same period, a partnership between Hamilton and Newey never materialized until Hamilton's unexpected decision to move to Ferrari for the upcoming year.

Hamilton joined McLaren only two years after Newey made the unexpected move to Red Bull.

Hamilton's rise to dominance in 2014 led Newey to consider other opportunities. During this time, Luca di Montezemolo, the then-president of Ferrari, tried to recruit the Red Bull designer.

Newey became more and more aggravated by the limitations imposed on Red Bull due to Renault's underwhelming engine, admitting that he felt "quite depressed" about the circumstances.

In 2014, Mercedes attempted to recruit Newey, but he remained committed to Red Bull, mentioning the "paternal bond" he felt from helping transform the team from a mid-tier contender to a championship victor.

In a 2017 interview with the BBC, Newey expressed his frustration with their engine supplier, saying it seemed like a hopeless situation. He admitted feeling quite down about it. During this period, Ferrari and another team, Mercedes, both reached out to him, leading to a moment where he had to make a crucial decision.

"Building Red Bull from the ground up created a paternal connection for me to the team and the staff. I had a very close and strong bond with Christian Horner. Leaving felt like abandoning a family."

Newey's enthusiasm for Formula 1 fluctuated over the years until Red Bull teamed up with Honda in 2019, leading to a resurgence that culminated in Max Verstappen defeating Hamilton for the championship in 2021.

Why not consider Ferrari for 2025?

Whispers of internal troubles at Red Bull during the early stages of the 2024 F1 season, fueled by the controversy surrounding Christian Horner (accused of inappropriate conduct), have sparked widespread speculation that Newey might depart from the team, and Verstappen's future has also become uncertain.

At the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull made an official statement about Newey's exit, stating that he would be free to sign with a competing F1 team in early 2025.

Ferrari was quickly associated with Newey, with certain sources suggesting they were willing to offer him £100 million for a four-year contract.

Following the announcement, Hamilton confessed that Newey would be his first choice of collaborator in Formula 1.

Hamilton stated that if he were to create a list of individuals he wishes to collaborate with, that person would definitely be at the top.

"Working with him would be a great advantage for any team."

Two months later, Newey replied, expressing his gratitude for Lewis's kind words and admitting he felt honored. He mentioned that, for now, he plans to take a short break and then consider his next steps.

Over time, it became evident that Aston Martin was fervently striving to recruit Newey.

It has been reported that billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll provided him with a tour of the Aston Martin headquarters.

As reported by Motorsport.com, Ferrari aimed to steer clear of a competitive bidding situation with Aston Martin for Newey, thereby dismissing the chance of a collaboration among three of Formula 1's top entities.

Aston Martin finds themselves in an exhilarating spot as they advance, thanks to their substantial investment which has brought them F1's top talent.

For Ferrari, although this would have been a significant setback a year ago, the team is experiencing a resurgence under the guidance of Frederic Vasseur. The addition of Loic Serra to their ranks is a wise decision.

Furthermore, McLaren has demonstrated this year that having Adrian Newey isn't a prerequisite for possessing the fastest car in Formula 1.

The potential partnership of Hamilton, Newey, and Ferrari would have been an exciting and highly anticipated development for Formula 1.

Although it's unfortunate that this won't come to pass, the sport might gain from a competitive perspective since the top driver won't be teamed up with the top designer at the best team.

Hamilton is firmly convinced that Newey consistently produces high-quality cars, which bodes well for Aston Martin.

In 2022, the current Mercedes driver remarked, "Adrian Newey typically doesn't design poor-performing cars."

In 2007, my initial championship car with McLaren was a development based on his vehicle. He conducted extensive research on ground-effect cars. It's not shocking that he's among the few who still sketch these cars manually.

"They have performed incredibly well, and any previous comments I made about the team weren't intended to be critical. Years ago, I mentioned that they were primarily a drinks company, simply to point out that people might expect more from a car manufacturer. However, they have exceeded my expectations and those of others."

"Given that Adrian focused his university thesis on ground effect cars, it's no shock that he has accomplished and designed what he has this year."

The collaboration between Hamilton and Newey might have come to fruition, and although it didn't occur this time, it is highly probable that they will remain competitors in the future, further building their individual F1 histories.

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