Ex-F1 driver Ivan Capelli posits that Lewis Hamilton's jump to Ferrari could pave the way for Adrian Newey to finally make his move to Maranello. Capelli, who has personal history with the Scuderia from his 1992 stint, argues that Hamilton joining for 2025 makes the team a much more attractive destination for top-tier engineers. Newey has been a hard target in the past, consistently turning down Ferrari's offers to stay at Red Bull, but the arrival of a driver of Hamilton's caliber could change the dynamic entirely.
Former Italian Formula One driver Ivan Capelli believes that Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari might open up the doors to Adrian Newey’s much-anticipated move to the Maranello. Capelli, who raced for Ferrari in 1992, feels Hamilton’s choice to join Ferrari ahead of the F1 2025 season will make them ‘ more attractive’ to many technical geniuses, including Newey, who has previously turned down the many opportunities to join the Italians in the past. As recently as early last season, the Red Bull maestro turned down the opportunity to join Ferrari, preferring to stay with the Red Bull F1 squad; but Hamilton crossing the line following his final year with Mercedes this season may open the floodgates.
Capelli acknowledges that Hamilton alone might not be enough to bring back the Constructor's Championship—which has eluded Ferrari since 2008—but he believes the driver's arrival could entice experts like Newey to switch teams. Speaking with AutoSprint, Capelli highlighted Hamilton's vast experience and his ability to bring new rhythms and visions to Ferrari's long-term goals.
Capelli pointed out that because Hamilton is a driver and not an engineer, he won't be altering the car's design himself; however, his move signals a shift in the team's trajectory. This shift makes Ferrari a more enticing prospect for technicians who previously had no interest in working there. The veteran Italian emphasized that a seven-time world champion moving to Maranello suggests a serious project is underway, which is exactly what would attract someone like Newey.
Ferrari, despite their 16 Constructor titles, has tried several times to recruit the Red Bull mastermind, but Newey has always held his ground. Capelli, who once worked alongside Newey at March F1, believes that if both Hamilton and Newey could unite at Ferrari to win a title, it would be the ultimate professional triumph.
Capelli concluded by noting that Newey has been the defining force behind the success of Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull over the last 35 years. For him to join Ferrari—potentially bringing his own team of engineers—and lead them back to victory would be the crowning achievement of his career. Meanwhile, Sergio Perez has also noted that Hamilton's switch will create some very intriguing dynamics on the grid.