Lewis Hamilton contract...

Lewis Hamilton contract… Sebastian Vettel…advanced Ferrari plans

Lewis Hamilton’s anticipated move to Ferrari is generating significant buzz, and recent reports shed more light on the intricacies of his contract, his future working relationship with Ferrari’s engineering team, and the Italian team’s ambitious car development plans.

A notable clause in Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari has emerged, adding a layer of complexity to his move from Mercedes. The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion has agreed to a ‘no-poaching’ provision that restricts him from bringing along any Mercedes personnel to Ferrari for the 2025 season. This clause effectively curtails Hamilton’s ability to replicate the Mercedes team’s winning formula at his new team.

One major impact of this clause is Hamilton’s upcoming partnership with Riccardo Adami, who will serve as his race engineer at Ferrari. Adami is currently working alongside Carlos Sainz, who will be making way for Hamilton in Ferrari’s driver lineup. While this transition represents a significant shift for Ferrari, it’s expected to maintain some consistency within the engineering team, as Adami will continue working with one of Ferrari’s star drivers.

This also marks a new chapter in Hamilton’s career, as he parts ways with Peter Bonnington, his long-standing race engineer at Mercedes. Bonnington has played an instrumental role in Hamilton’s success at the Silver Arrows and has now been promoted to Head of Race Engineering at Mercedes, leaving Hamilton without his trusted companion. Instead, he will need to build a new relationship with Adami, an experienced engineer who previously worked with another F1 legend, Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton’s decision to collaborate with Riccardo Adami didn’t come without careful consideration. Reports indicate that Hamilton reached out to Sebastian Vettel, his former rival and a Ferrari veteran, to gather insights on Adami. Vettel, who worked with Adami for six years during his tenure at Ferrari, provided positive feedback, which helped Hamilton feel confident about the partnership.

Italian journalist Giuliano Duchessa revealed earlier in 2024 that Hamilton sought Vettel’s advice on Adami’s capabilities, with the German offering glowing praise for his former engineer. Duchessa reported, “I heard Lewis called Seb some time ago to ask about Riccardo Adami’s 2025 perspective. Obviously, the feedback on the qualities was excellent.” This endorsement seemingly solidified Ferrari’s decision to keep Adami in their engineering lineup, ensuring a smooth transition for Hamilton.

While Hamilton will need to adjust to working with a new race engineer, Ferrari’s engineering team is expected to remain relatively stable. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s other lead driver, is reportedly pleased with his engineer, Bryan Bozzi, and the team is eager to maintain this continuity. This stability within Ferrari’s engineering ranks could be a key factor in ensuring Hamilton and Leclerc’s success in the upcoming seasons.

Ferrari isn’t just focusing on personnel changes; the Italian team is also advancing rapidly in its car development plans. Reports suggest that Ferrari’s upcoming 2025 car, dubbed ‘Project 677,’ is progressing at a faster pace than initially expected. This could have significant implications for Hamilton’s first season with the team, potentially providing him with a more competitive car from the outset.

According to *Gazzetta dello Sport*, Ferrari is so confident in its progress that the team might even incorporate some of the design elements from Project 677 into the current SF-24 chassis. This could give Hamilton an early advantage, allowing him to familiarize himself with some of the innovations that will define the 2025 car before it even hits the track.

One of the most notable developments is Ferrari’s rumored shift to a pullrod front suspension, an innovation that has already been adopted by competitors like Red Bull and McLaren. The pullrod suspension is believed to offer aerodynamic advantages by improving airflow at the front of the car, which could be a crucial factor under the current ground-effect regulations. Ferrari’s decision to explore this new suspension setup underscores the team’s commitment to challenging for titles in the coming seasons.

Ferrari is already the only team alongside its sister organization, Haas, to operate a pullrod rear suspension. This unique setup was introduced under former technical director Enrico Cardile, who has since moved to Aston Martin. While the rear suspension layout hasn’t delivered the expected results so far, Ferrari’s willingness to experiment with new ideas reflects its ambition to stay at the forefront of F1 innovation.

As Hamilton prepares for his move to Ferrari, the team’s plans to introduce new technological advancements could play a critical role in his quest to add another World Championship to his already illustrious career.