Ralf Schumacher claims Ferrari should’ve retained Carlos Sainz instead of signing Lewis Hamilton for 2025

Ralf Schumacher reckoned that it would've been better for Ferrari to continue with Carlos Sainz rather than signing Lewis Hamilton for next season.

Ralf Schumacher claims Ferrari should’ve retained Carlos Sainz instead of signing Lewis Hamilton for 2025

Carlos Sainz [L] Ralf Schumacher [C] Lewis Hamilton [R] (via IMAGO)

Lewis Hamilton will race for Scuderia Ferrari in 2025. The seven-time world champion will replace Carlos Sainz at Maranello with the Spaniard becoming a free agent in the driver market. However, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believed that Ferrari might’ve made the wrong call by signing the British driver.

Carlos Sainz had managed to match Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia since joining the team in 2021. Ralf Schumacher was unsure who was the mastermind in signing Lewis Hamilton at Maranello. However, the German claimed that as per his gut feeling, the Italian team should’ve retained the Spanish driver for next season.

I don't know who exactly was the mastermind behind the change and hoped for more from Hamilton. I would also say from the gut feeling that both should have been kept.
Ralf Schumacher told Formel1.de
YouTube video

Moreover, Ralf Schumacher claimed that it could’ve been ideal for Hamilton to continue at Mercedes for a season or two before finally retiring from Formula 1. Although, Schumacher admitted that Lewis Hamilton was keen on leaving the Brackley-based team himself. The Briton remains a talented driver who still has the hunger for another world championship.

FS Video
Lewis Hamilton could have done a Mercedes for another year or two and then retired.
Ralf Schumacher affirmed

Ralf Schumacher dismisses ‘absurd’ Lewis Hamilton retirement rumors

Lewis Hamilton has struggled in 2024 so far. The seven-time world champion claimed that it was his ‘worst-ever’ start to an F1 season. Rumors have surfaced that the British driver might back out of his upcoming Ferrari deal and retire from the sport altogether at the end of this season.

Lewis Hamilton Chinese GP
Lewis Hamilton (Via: Imago)

However, Ralf Schumacher dismissed such speculation. The ex-F1 driver deemed the rumors to be ‘completely absurd.’ The German pointed out that Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract was far too big for such a possibility. It is believed that Hamilton will earn over $430 million in his multi-year deal with the Scuderia.

Completely absurd... The contract is far too large, far too much money is involved.
Ralf Schumacher asserted

Certainly, it is highly unlikely that Lewis Hamilton announces his retirement for the foreseeable future. The 39-year-old is motivated to join Maranello and start a new chapter in his career. As such, fans would be looking forward to seeing the seven-time world champion race for the Prancing Horse alongside Charles Leclerc next season.

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