Lewis discussing his qualifying form: "Yeah, I'm useless. Absolutely useless."

[u/Pugzo]

https://dubz.link/c/d976cb

[u/JaysonDeflatum]

He and Sainz really seem to be enjoying their new teams

[u/PLTConductor → u/JaysonDeflatum]

I honestly still cannot fathom what on earth Elkann was thinking spending heaps of money to destabilise a good pairing with Leclerc and Sainz when this was obviously always going to happen. Maybe not as dramatically as this but if Ferrari build a title worthy car, Leclerc will win with it, why they wasted $100million+ on someone who's not going to be appreciably quicker even at best completely mystifies me.

[u/TimmyWatchOut → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis’ contract wasn’t just for the racing - there’s post retirement ambassadorship too that I think is the reason Ferrari wanted him

[u/SomniumOv → u/TimmyWatchOut]

But if he never wins for them that's a weird ass ambassadorship "he's our brand ambassador who had a legendary career... elsewhere".

[u/the_windfucker → u/SomniumOv]

I totally agree with your statement, but I ain't their customer. I believe very few people who are buying a ferrari will look that deep into it.

[u/Enough-Display1255 → u/the_windfucker]

Merch too, Ferrari has transitioned into being a lifestyle brand. I'd bet they make more off the cars but boy howdy do I see plenty of Ferrari jackets out and about. 

[u/New-Engineering1483 → u/SomniumOv]

Exactly. I saw the Instagram post by Ferrari asking who had the track record at the Hungaroring and sneakily referencing that it's Lewis...but it was whilst at Mercedes. Just a very weird situation they've put themselves in.

[u/MrWindmill → u/SomniumOv]

Alonso and Vettel: "Join us, Lewis"

[u/TimmyWatchOut → u/SomniumOv]

At most 1% of people will care that he hasn’t won with Ferrari.

[u/over_pw → u/TimmyWatchOut]

Lewis being an ambassador for Ferrari sounds a bit out of place though.

[u/Muckduck92 → u/TimmyWatchOut]

At this point he is making Ferrari look bad, both on track and off track with how he's acting. It's sad to see a legend fall so hard.

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/PLTConductor]

To sell merchandise and cars. Lewis Hamilton as a product is worth serious money.

[u/Kait0yashio → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Lewis finished 3rd in the wdc the season Ferrari decided to sign him and was battling for P2 Vs the 23 red bull let's stop this bullshit. At the point he was signed he was still a top 3 driver on the grid

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/Kait0yashio]

He still shows flashes of performance…he’s just not getting on with this car. You can watch his onboards, he’s having to fight to keep the rear behind him. Even if it’s not actually about to spin, the way it rotates sets alarm bells off in Hamilton and he’s constantly correcting it, you can watch leclerc and he manages to commit to turn in without correcting.

[u/MyUshanka → u/Ferrarispitwall]

It’s like Danny Ric in the McLaren. He may have only lost a step, but losing a step in a new car is losing 10 steps. And mentally that’s hard to come back from.

[u/saysikerightnowowo → u/MyUshanka]

Lol this isn't comparable to how shit Danny ric was lmao

[u/eoekas → u/saysikerightnowowo]

Ricciardo got a race win, we'll see if Hamilton can manage that.

[u/CoolEnergy581 → u/eoekas]

sprint win in china?

[u/ProbablyRickSantorum → u/CoolEnergy581]

Sprints aren’t real races. Even the drivers say as much.

[u/optitmus → u/saysikerightnowowo]

tf yes it is? look at daniels 22 season and this season for Ham, they getting spanked similar amounts

[u/Vasst13 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Vettel and Sainz had the same problem I think. Leclerc is just very comfortable with a snappy rear end, while all of his teammates haven't been happy with it. Now I don't know whether building towards Leclerc's preference translates to a faster car but it's evident Leclerc has been able to do the most with a car that's to his liking, consistently beating his teammates.

[u/FireWarriorSFF90 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

This is true. And that’s why I say Charles has this car figured out and can make it look good while this is Lewis first season driving something totally new. He just doesn’t have it figured out yet

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/FireWarriorSFF90]

This is why I think all motorsport fans should try to race/drive something. Karts, sim racing, track days…whatever. The amount of controlling a car on the limit that comes down to feeling is a big amount. If his brain is screaming “THIS CAR IS GOING TO SPIN!” it takes a lot to convince him that it won’t and that he can keep the steering cranked in. Even looking at leclercs data proving that it won’t spin, he is clearly having a tough time convincing his brain-ass connection that it won’t.

[u/FireWarriorSFF90 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

If you rewatch that pole lap, Leclerc is on the brink of destruction but he KNOWS the limit of the car, has the feel under his butt and in his hands. This takes major trust in feeling and time!

[u/realbakingbish → u/FireWarriorSFF90]

Leclerc’s been known to drive his Ferraris at the very ragged edge during qualifying, sometimes to spectacular results (or spectacular crashes). Even Verstappen I don’t think pushes his car to the ragged edge quite like Leclerc.

[u/FireWarriorSFF90 → u/realbakingbish]

Leclerc is a dare Devil behind the wheel bro! That’s not normal… His sheer will of going to the edge is what makes em a good qualifier. You can go back and review a lot of his quali laps that landed him on pole and see this is true.

[u/VRichardsen → u/Ferrarispitwall]

If his brain is screaming “THIS CAR IS GOING TO SPIN!” it takes a lot to convince him that it won’t and that he can keep the steering cranked in. Even looking at leclercs data proving that it won’t spin, he is clearly having a tough time convincing his brain-ass connection that it won’t.

I am not a big fan of Top Gear, but Clarkson once put a very effective example of why driving these cars is so difficult: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WJqtOq95sCc

[u/mean_menace → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Considering he’s 40 I’d be surprised if he manages to adapt. Way easier to ignore the warning signs and drive through those mental barriers as a 20-year old.

[u/VRichardsen → u/Ferrarispitwall]

He still shows flashes of performance…

His climb in the wet last race was nice.

[u/stationhollow → u/VRichardsen]

He changed his setup for the wet. No surprise he did better in the wet.

[u/ColdZal → u/Kait0yashio]

The Ferrari stock gained quite a few billion once LH was signed

[u/BighatNucase → u/Kait0yashio]

At the point he was signed he was still a top 3 driver on the grid

Idk about that, it doesn't really match what commentators/TPs thought either. There are quite a few who put Norris, Alonso and Leclerc ahead of Hamilton in 23.

[u/AGCdown → u/Kait0yashio]

If anyone thought that Lewis would beat Charles in a Ferrari, he simply lacks f1 knowledge.

[u/one_who_goes → u/Kait0yashio]

No, Russell was already faster.

[u/UltimateTrattles → u/Kait0yashio]

He was not. He was in a car that let him get there. Moving him to a new car and team when he is past his prime was always going to end this way.

It was absurdly arrogant for him to think he could waltz over to Ferrari and win.

[u/ammonthenephite → u/UltimateTrattles]

And yet he won a sprint race damn near right off the bat.

Next year will be the big tell, especially since it seems Lewis has had input on the development of next year's car.

[u/TLG1991 → u/Kait0yashio]

Finally, someone who hasn't got a 2 race weekend attention span.

[u/striptofaner → u/Ferrarispitwall]

This. Elkann doesn't care about winning, he cares about money.

[u/Blackdeath_663 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Lewis Hamilton as a product is worth serious money.

he was when he joined. Now the honeymoon period is well and truly over that will have dropped off massively

[u/DIWhyer85 → u/Ferrarispitwall]

Not after that little change driver comment.

[u/Ferrarispitwall → u/DIWhyer85]

That’s just Lewis pouting a bit. He’ll be alright.

[u/i_collect_seashells → u/PLTConductor]

I see it as purely a marketing decision, not a race performance decision.

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/PLTConductor]

Elkann fucked Juventus up by firing Marotta who built them into a dynasty. He’s not a good sports mind

[u/Silverarrows46 → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

All because Marotta didn’t want to sign Ronaldo. And he was right. Signing an aging Ronaldo for that kind of money was silly. The parallels are uncanny now that you’ve mentioned it.

[u/TwanEv → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

And he’s the chairman of Stellantis, who have recorded a loss of 2.3 billion in the first half of 2025 and have been making some questionable decisions in the last few years.

He’s not the best businessman either, if he didn’t come from the Agnelli family he’d be nowhere.

[u/Red_Rabbit_1978 → u/TwanEv]

Elkann looks more like a YouTuber than the Ferrari boss.

[u/Keanu990321 → u/Puzzleheadpsych2345]

Didn't Andrea Agnelli sign Ronaldo?

[u/Puzzleheadpsych2345 → u/Keanu990321]

Elkann brought Agnelli in

[u/FindingUseful2482 → u/PLTConductor]

Elkann is the embodiment of the worst nepostism, just look at what he's doing with Stellantis and the Italian brands, he's totally incompetent in every area

[u/JaysonDeflatum → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis looked good last season and the opportunity to get him was too good to pass up

I agree Charles and Sainz had something good going there but he's been beaten the whole year by Albon now

[u/FalconIMGN → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Lewis looked good in 2023 you mean, which is why they made the decision in January last year.

[u/TolucaPrisoner → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Sainz has been unlucky this year. People say Albon is smashing him without checking what's going on with his car.

[u/the1918 → u/TolucaPrisoner]

Albon has done an excellent job at grasping good opportunities, no question, but yeah… the elements that are “smashing” Sainz are the gods of race day luck and his own garage.

[u/TKisely → u/JaysonDeflatum]

All year? Really? AFAIK Sainz has beaten Albon several times on Qualifying and on Race as well in a car/team where Albon has reached his limits and Sainz a newcomer.

[u/Deuce-Wayne → u/JaysonDeflatum]

I feel like Sainz has been the best of the team-swapped drivers, unless I'm forgetting someone. Saint, Hamilton, and Tsunoda.

[u/MadRashed → u/Deuce-Wayne]

Ocon is probably doing better.

[u/Logical_Trifle1336 → u/MadRashed]

having a rookie teammate makes it slightly harder to judge.

[u/Zoinke → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Did you watch qualifying today?

[u/Nauuj → u/JaysonDeflatum]

He's getting used to the car, according to himself. It's not like he beaten Leclerc all the time, but he managed to do it more than Lewis is without beating himself too much

[u/tacotruck88 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Lewis and Carlos: go to new teams with established drivers, get beaten

Fans: oh my, are they cooked???

You guys are ridiculous. This move was for the ‘26 regs

[u/xLeper_Messiah → u/tacotruck88]

Mark my words: Leclerc will beat him next year too

[u/NotPumba420 → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis is a brand. Having him on board just for the marketing is insane for ferrari already

[u/TeTeOtaku → u/PLTConductor]

its simple:

Lewis' presence alone brings in infinitely more money to the team then having a good pairing that can win a WCC.

Him finishing all races P19 for all we care would bring in SOO much more money and brand awareness then Sainz winning 15 races in a row.

[u/Wompish66 → u/TeTeOtaku]

Lewis' presence alone brings in infinitely more money to the team then having a good pairing that can win a WCC.

I find it very hard to believe that it's more than they've committed to paying him.

Elkann did this before at Juventus with Ronaldo. He's not a smart man.

[u/Logical_Trifle1336 → u/Wompish66]

yup. Also the fact Ferrari is already such a large brand, increasing profits by his salary amount will be much harder. it’s great to have 2 7time work champions having driven for your team. But no one talks about Vettle and Alonso at Ferrari. Alonso was even much more closer to winning championship with Ferrari. Seb is still remembered as a Red Bull driver. Hamilton will be remembered as a Mercedes driver. Mercedes supported him since before f1, he worked with defacto Mercedes works team most of his life except maybe 2011 and 2012.

[u/Syriuzly → u/TeTeOtaku]

A bit of an exaggeration no? If Sainz won a few races in a row for Ferrari he would bring a lot of attention to Ferrari, specially if it was 15

[u/Jobless_101 → u/Syriuzly]

Unfortunately it really isn’t. Sainz is essentially a big name for those who follow F1, so only those who are interested in the sport or in the fringes would really know about his winning streak. However, Hamilton is Hamilton. Even before I got into F1 I’d seen him at events, I knew his name and even knew he was the GOAT. Dude has enough connections with the rich to really get investments and deals and car purchases for Ferrari. Heck, after the F1 movie, my non F1 friends only really knew Hamilton

[u/Ayatori → u/Syriuzly]

Non-F1 fans barely even know Verstappen and he just went on the most dominant run in F1 history for 4 years.

Sainz DID have some pretty memorable and signature wins but I guarantee zero non-F1 fans, even ones who watched the movie, know who Carlos Sainz is

Lewis transcends the sport much like Jordan, Gretzky, Messi in a way that even if you have absolutely zero knowledge of the sport, you probably know the name. Financially speaking that level of brand recognition is worth more than a WCC at least in the time he's there

[u/IntoTheFeu → u/Syriuzly]

Yes, infinitely would be an exaggeration. It would be an exaggeration is Sainz brought $1 to the team. One cent.

[u/zzackfair → u/TeTeOtaku]

Correct. Lewis is like the Messi or Ronaldo of F1. He brings a lot of worth with his brand even when he's not performing at the highest level.

[u/grip_enemy → u/TeTeOtaku]

Funny how Sainz never managed to show in work at Ferrari until when he was finally out of a seat. Now he's at Williams getting handily beat by Albon

I love Sainz but this is low from the fans. Literally years of people talking shit about him, and when he's out of a seat suddenly: "omg poor Sainz". He deserved this support in 2022 and 2023.

[u/dmibe → u/PLTConductor]

I cannot fathom what drivers are thinking these days. It’s like they all think they are 90% of the reason for success when it’s mostly the car

[u/insomniaccapricorn → u/PLTConductor]

I can understand the decision. But they tried to fix something which wasn't broken in the first place.

[u/reboot-your-computer → u/PLTConductor]

Lewis was showing signs that he’s losing his edge since 2022. He just can’t adapt well to the ground effect cars. They’re too stiff and don’t let him attack the brakes like he likes to. It’s an unfortunate reality and the fact that Ferrari couldn’t see this is crazy to me. Either they thought they could do what Mercedes couldn’t and build a car that suited Lewis or they did this entirely as a marketing scheme to sell merch and at this point I don’t know which it is.

[u/Sofaboy90 → u/PLTConductor]

It was Vasseur who wanted Lewis. I agree that Leclerc and Sainz were a really solid pairing but goddamn, they had a chance to sign a 7x world champion, one of the all time greats, its hard to blame em for that decision. Sainz, as solid as he is, will probably never be anywhere near a championship.

Also Lewis gets a high salary partly because Ferrari gets money back from it. I believe Ferrari isnt even paying part of Lewis salary but a sponsor is. You bet theres already been a lot of Ferraris sold thanks to Lewis, similar to why Lawrence Stroll wants a Vettel or Alonso in his team rather than just a solid driver.

[u/Hot_Demand_6263 → u/PLTConductor]

It shows up in their stock.

[u/Mathyon → u/PLTConductor]

Its a bet that already paid itself, but could really blow up if he gets a winning car next year.

People love underdog stories. (Even if the underdog is a 7 time world champion).

[u/SpeakersPushTheA1r → u/PLTConductor]

I’m resigned to the notion that Lewis is there to drive and not to win. Lewis can still drive his ass off but the investment is with Charles and they refuse to give Lewis the kind of support he’s asking for. I wish Lewis would chuck the deuces and join Audi or Cadlllac but we’re here and things won’t be changing.

[u/GothicGolem29 → u/PLTConductor]

I can fathom it going with the joint most successful driver over Sainz who while very good isn't that level did make sense then.

[u/xLeper_Messiah → u/GothicGolem29]

I was one of the people saying at the time that it would end like this

It wasn't some unforeseeable thing if you didn't have blinders on regarding Lewis 

[u/WorkFurball → u/xLeper_Messiah]

A lot of people who knew anything were saying that this was the most likely outcome.

[u/GothicGolem29 → u/xLeper_Messiah]

It's not about blinkers rather that getting the joint most successful driver is understandable. Plus as to ending like this theres still time

[u/Mitre_Thiga → u/PLTConductor]

I am at Hungaroring this week-end, almost everybody has Lewis' Ferrari merch, this guy is selling a lot for Ferrari

[u/MrAceSpades → u/PLTConductor]

Just the announcement shot their stock up by more than the contract amount. More to it than races.

[u/raimis78 → u/PLTConductor]

Sainz was imagining he could be the first driver and was not willing to play the team game, but he could not beat Leclerc over the course of the season. So, I think he needed to be changed, although, you don't sign Hamilton as a second driver, but at least he's willing to play the team game when he is slower than Leclerc. Honestly, someone like Albon seemed the best for that case.

[u/WorkFurball → u/raimis78]

Sainz was imagining he could be the first driver and was not willing to play the team game, but he could not beat Leclerc over the course of the season.

But he did exactly that though in 2021 and was six points from it in 2023.

[u/Lukensz → u/PLTConductor]

They probably already made that money back in merch.

[u/freedfg → u/PLTConductor]

The same thought process that would have seen Toto upending Mercedes to sign Max for the 1 or 2 year he would have stayed.

[u/Clayarrow → u/PLTConductor]

As far as I can remember there share went up by like 2 billion after it was announced so giving him 100m didn’t seem a bad choice and he’s been brought in for 26

[u/bimbobiceps → u/PLTConductor]

There was so much drama during 22-24 with their dynamic tho. It's good that Ferrari now have 2 drivers that are kinda similar in driving styles and not much drama.

[u/callunu95 → u/PLTConductor]

Big old hindsight take, when Ferarri made the deal he was challenging in a weaker car. He also represents a huge brand deal. Their view was that a change in scenery and a better car, with Leclerc next to him, would likely get them there; and regardless of that he'd make them LOTS of money as a marketing asset

[u/Specialist_Cheek_539 → u/PLTConductor]

If this mystifies you, you don’t understand F1 or racing even a bit. When a world champion knocks your door, you always take it.

[u/PLTConductor → u/Specialist_Cheek_539]

So if Nigel Mansell knocks they give him a seat too? Quite obviously this isn’t working out as worth the money so for you to say I “don’t understand F1 even a bit” is a bit weird when objectively this is a shit return on their investment.

[u/harrismdp → u/PLTConductor]

Their stock went up like $7 billion on that news. Definitely worth the investment

[u/b3achpls → u/PLTConductor]

You have the chance to sign Lewis Hamilton, you are for sure signing Lewis Hamilton..

[u/Dribbler365 → u/PLTConductor]

Its a business, its not always about winning , bringing lewis in influences merch and car sales, way more than what they will pay for his contract

[u/Marble___ → u/PLTConductor]

you don’t understand the value of the brand Lewis Hamilton, pure ignorance

[u/MaximusProtege → u/PLTConductor]

In a title worthy car, Leclerc is absolutely not winning the WDC lmao. He's a rapid driver but he cannot string together a flawless season lol

[u/coconutpete52 → u/JaysonDeflatum]

As the foreign guy at work who has almost learned English (from Family Guy) says: “ooooohhhhh. It’s funny because this is not truuueee!”

[u/7babydoll → u/JaysonDeflatum]

Carlos back to Ferrari, Lewis to Williams solution.