Former Ferrari Boss Binotto Says He Wouldn’t Have Signed Hamilton, Advocates for Focus on Leclerc

Former Ferrari F1 chief Mattia Binotto has admitted he wouldn't have brought Lewis Hamilton onto the team.

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

The Formula 1 community was taken aback in February when news broke that Hamilton would be departing Mercedes at the season's conclusion to join Ferrari.

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

In a conversation with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Audi's newly appointed chief Binotto, who served as the team principal for Ferrari from 2019 to 2022, confessed that he wouldn't have chosen to sign Hamilton.

In response to whether Hamilton's switch would have occurred under his leadership at Ferrari, Binotto stated, "No. However, I believe his choice to join Ferrari was a wise one."

Binotto articulated his rationale, stating his conviction that Ferrari ought to focus on Leclerc.

"He added that Ferrari had shifted their attention to different drivers. "And if Leclerc is the talent," he stated, "then it seems right that he's the one who should be supported towards achieving the goal in some manner."

Hamilton is set to reunite with his ex-ART Grand Prix leader, Fred Vasseur, who replaced Binotto as the head of Ferrari.

The British driver, set to turn 40 at the time of his inaugural race with Ferrari, aspires to emulate Michael Schumacher's success with the renowned Italian squad.

"From the instant I inked my signature on the deal, it's been an emotional whirlwind – informing my employer was particularly daunting," Hamilton shared with The Times.

"The thrill really comes from those childhood memories of observing Michael. Every racer looks at that vehicle, wondering what it feels like to be in that red driver's seat."

Hamilton has signed with Ferrari in pursuit of an unprecedented eighth world championship, seeking to bring an end to the team's prolonged period without securing a world title.

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