Todt questions Ferrari’s Hamilton gamble: Is it really an upgrade?

Former FIA president and Ferrari chief Jean Todt has weighed in on the Scuderia’s decision to swap Carlos Sainz with Lewis Hamilton.

While acknowledging that Ferrari will maintain a “top-level” driver pairing with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Todt questions whether the team’s new line-up is truly an upgrade over the previous combination of Leclerc and Sainz.

The Frenchman’s perspective offers a valuable insight, given his extensive experience with Ferrari. Todt oversaw the team's dominant era with Michael Schumacher, giving him a unique understanding of what it takes to succeed in Maranello.

Driver Talent Not the Issue for Ferrari

Sainz spent four seasons with Ferrari and secured four Grand Prix victories. For many, the Spaniard’s dismissal was less performance-based and more driven by Hamilton's availability which was simply too enticing for the Italian outfit to ignore.

However, the decision has led some to wonder whether Ferrari is prioritizing short-term star power over long-term stability, given that Hamilton is entering the twilight of his career at 40 years old.

With Ferrari still trailing Red Bull in the fight for championships, Todt believes that driver quality has never been the team's primary issue.

“What is Ferrari missing to win? Little, very little. Even in the past, they came very close,” he told Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica.

“Even the line-up with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz was a good pairing; they certainly didn’t lose because of the drivers.”

Todt’s remarks highlight that Ferrari’s recent struggles have been more about car performance than driver talent.

While Hamilton’s arrival will bring experience and marketability, the former FIA supremo remains uncertain about whether it truly strengthens Ferrari’s on-track capabilities.

“Obviously, even with Hamilton the line-up remains top-level. Will it be better than the previous one? I have no idea, we’ll have to see the level of the car,” he added.

No Impact on Leclerc

Hamilton’s signing has generated an immense amount of media attention, with every step of his transition to Ferrari making headlines.

From his arrival in Maranello to his first laps in the SF-23 – including his first crash – the British driver has dominated the F1 news cycle.

This shift in focus raises questions about how Leclerc, Ferrari’s long-standing golden boy, will handle the arrival of one of the sport’s most decorated figures.

©Ferrari

However, Todt does not believe Hamilton’s presence will negatively impact Leclerc.

“I don’t think it will be affected by Lewis Hamilton,” he said. “For Charles, it could be an opportunity to be even more motivated, much like what happened with George Russell at Mercedes.”

Todt's Ferrari Legacy and Current Disconnect

Todt's tenure at Ferrari is legendary, marked by an unprecedented period of success in the early 2000s alongside Michael Schumacher.

However, the 78-year-old has also revealed his disappointment at the current Scuderia management’s lack of communication with him.

Having dedicated years to turning Ferrari into a championship-winning force, he admits feeling puzzled by the absence of contact since his departure from the FIA in 2021.

“Since I left, I have spoken to some members of the team, but since I left the FIA I have never had any contact again,” Todt admitted.

“I must say that I was very perplexed given how much time I dedicated to this incredible company and how many results we achieved.”

Reflecting on his time at Ferrari, Todt recalled the massive overhaul he led when he arrived in 1993.

“When I arrived in 1993 there was a castle in ruins, the design area in England, an old and unusable wind tunnel at the headquarters. But little by little we built a jewel,” he said.

Under his leadership, Ferrari constructed a formidable operation that secured an aggregate 14 championships, a record-breaking period in the team’s history.

“Alone I would not have done anything, I was good at forming and maintaining a team for years, making it a dream team,” he said.

“The 14 championships won remain in the books. It was the most successful period in the history of Ferrari.”

With Hamilton now in Ferrari red, the question remains: will his presence bring the Scuderia closer to championship glory, or is the team still fighting the same uphill battle?

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