Ex-Ferrari Chief Binotto Reveals Why Hamilton Wouldn’t Have Been His Pick for Scuderia

Former Ferrari Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto admitted he would have decided against bringing Lewis Hamilton onto the team.

Mattia Binotto claims that if he had remained at the helm of the F1 team, Lewis Hamilton's high-profile move to Ferrari would not have taken place.

In a surprising turn of events for the Formula 1 community, it was revealed in February that Hamilton plans to depart from Mercedes at the conclusion of the current season to join Ferrari.

The seven-time world champion is set to team up with Charles Leclerc starting in 2025, taking over from Carlos Sainz, who will be moving to Williams.

In an interview with the Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Binotto, the newly appointed head of Audi and former Ferrari team principal from 2019 to 2022, confessed that he would not have chosen to sign Hamilton.

When questioned about whether Hamilton's decision would have taken place while he was leading Ferrari, Binotto responded, "No. However, I believe he made a smart choice by joining Ferrari, and I support his decision."

In his explanation, Binotto expressed his opinion that Ferrari ought to focus on Leclerc as their priority.

"Ferrari had been paying attention to different drivers," he mentioned. "If Leclerc is the standout talent, then I believe he should be supported to achieve the goal in some manner."

Hamilton is set to reunite with Fred Vasseur, his old boss from ART Grand Prix, who succeeded Binotto at Ferrari.

The British driver, set to be 40 years old when he starts racing for Ferrari, aspires to emulate Michael Schumacher's achievements with the renowned Italian team.

Hamilton expressed to The Times that his emotional journey began with a whirlwind of feelings as soon as he put pen to paper on the contract. He described informing his boss as an incredibly frightening experience.

"However, it's incredibly thrilling because I recall watching Michael when I was younger. Every racer looks at that car and wonders, 'What would it be like to be in that red driver's seat?'"

Lewis Hamilton has signed with Ferrari with hopes of securing a historic eighth world championship, aiming to bring an end to the team's extended period without a world title.

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