Why did Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes to join Ferrari? A former Formula 1 driver has revealed a possible motivation that may have strongly influenced the decision. Leaving Mercedes after so many years of success was a bold step for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time World Champion has always described his move to the Maranello team as the fulfillment of a dream. However, in his first season with Ferrari, Hamilton has faced many difficulties. Despite this, the British driver has always shown confidence in the project and has never regretted his choice. Former F1 driver and current TV pundit Nico Rosberg has recently pointed out another reason that may have convinced Hamilton to join Ferrari.
The big difference between Mercedes and Ferrari
Speaking on the F1 The Show podcast, Nico Rosberg discussed several topics, including Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. According to the former F1 driver, the decision could be linked to the issue of sponsors. The job of a driver does not end on the track, as they have many commitments away from racing as well. Rosberg knows these dynamics and the Mercedes environment very well. He explained: “Nowadays, these teams have so many sponsors paying so much money, and the only way to give something back is through logo space, which is limited. So they want the drivers’ time. They want their clients to meet George Russell, and therefore they take up a lot of the drivers’ time.”
The 2016 World Champion added: “The number can go up to 60 days or so, 60 out of 365. That’s a lot of days. And some of those 60 days are half-days, so it can actually turn into 80 days.” How did this influence Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari? Rosberg was clear: “This was one of the reasons behind Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Because at Ferrari, they don’t use their drivers for sponsorship days. They have such a strong brand that they don’t need to offer their sponsors much time with the drivers.”
According to Nico Rosberg, Ferrari drivers face far fewer off-track obligations than their Mercedes counterparts. To illustrate, he recalled Sebastian Vettel’s time with the Maranello team: “I heard numbers that back in Vettel’s time, he had to do about 10 days, and that was it. And especially in the later stages of a career, that is something you really appreciate. That was part of the reason why Hamilton went to Ferrari. It was part of his decision-making process.” – the former Formula 1 driver concluded.
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