The contrasting fortunes of F1's big-name moves to Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton is not the only star driver to arrive on Ferrari’s shores after title-winning or title-contending success. Here’s the story of F1’s elite and their time dressed in red

Published Feb 8, 2024, 3:14 PM

Lewis Hamilton sent shockwaves through Formula 1 when it was announced last week that he will switch to Ferrari in 2025. After seven world championship triumphs with Mercedes power, Hamilton's move to Maranello is a bold one with no shortage of risk attached.

While several well-established drivers made a success of their time in red, that hasn't always been the case, and often down to factors beyond the driver's immediate control. Here we consider the fortunes of eight drivers who took the plunge and whether their Ferrari careers were a hit or miss.

Author Jake Boxall-Legge

Jake Boxall-Legge Autosport’s Technical Editor. Having studied Automotive Engineering with Motorsport at the University of Hertfordshire, West Country-born Jake's original ambition was to design racing cars. During a year between studies in which he accidentally rekindled a love of writing, he took up a Master's in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes. Halfway through his master's year, he was offered a place on the Autosport Academy, conducting occasional freelance duties before becoming the press officer for Formula 2 and GP3 in 2018. Autosport offered him a return to the fold later that year to serve as its Technical Editor. His voice appears on a number of videos and podcasts, and can often be found writing about terrible Formula 1 cars in excruciating detail. In his spare time, Jake enjoys baking and blames his failure to make it past the Great British Bake-Off interviews on his tenuous grasp on choux pastry. His dream is to open a brunch cafe - and his willingness to make outrageous puns in inappropriate situations has earned him the contempt of his colleagues.