Mark Webber has admitted that he ‘really wonders’ if Ferrari already ‘regret’ opting to drop Carlos Sainz and sign Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 F1 season.
The Scuderia stunned the Formula 1 paddock in February when the Maranello natives struck a deal to steal Hamilton. He had only signed his contract at Mercedes covering the 2024 and 2025 seasons last August. But the 39-year-old could actually get out of the deal after 2024.
So, Hamilton will now swap silver for red at the end of this year and replace Sainz as Charles Leclerc’s teammate. The seven-time champion will join Ferrari on a multi-year contract after 12 seasons in Brackley. He will also hope the switch has parallels with his exit from McLaren.
Mark Webber ‘wonders’ if Ferrari ‘regret’ signing Lewis Hamilton
But Sainz is showing Ferrari the talent they have let walk out of the door as the 29-year-old looks for his next seat on the grid. He has been the Scuderia’s lead driver in each Grand Prix the Spaniard has started. Sainz missed the Saudi Arabian GP due to his appendicitis surgery.
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s life outside F1 from full name, girlfriend and height
Ferrari have even seen Sainz finish on the podium at each race he has started to open 2024. The Madrid native finished in third in the Bahrain GP and the Japanese GP and also won the Australian GP. Leclerc finished those races in P4, P2 and P4 again and also got P3 in Jeddah.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ ongoing plight has seen Hamilton take P7 in Sakhir, P9 in Jeddah and P9 at Suzuka. He retired on Lap 15 in Melbourne with an engine failure. But Hamilton’s lack of form amid Sainz’s success leaves Webber wondering if Ferrari ‘regret’ their 2025 line-up.
“I really wonder whether Ferrari doesn’t regret this move a little,” Webber told Speedweek.
The Scuderia will hope Lewis Hamilton is their missing piece
Seeing Ferrari fight for the podium at each round and even winning the Australian GP will be delighting Hamilton ahead of his move to Maranello. But the Scuderia are unlikely to regret their decision to sign the Briton just yet. Hamilton could be the missing piece to their puzzle.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Hamilton similarly stunned the Formula 1 world when he quit McLaren for Mercedes after six seasons. The Silver Arrows had only won one race with Nico Rosberg at the 2012 Chinese GP since returning to F1 in 2010. But the turbo-hybrid era launched Mercedes to the front.
Mercedes won eight consecutive constructors’ championships from 2014 to 2021 and seven drivers’ titles. Hamilton won six of their drivers’ championships, with Rosberg taking the top spot in 2016 before retiring. Now, Hamilton will hope his Ferrari switch offers some parallels.
While Ferrari have emerged as the second-best team in 2024 to Red Bull, they are desperate to return to the top. The Scuderia have not won a drivers’ championship since 2007 and last won a constructors’ title in 2008. But Formula 1’s 2026 regulation changes may offer a reset.
The post ‘I really wonder’: Mark Webber ponders if F1 team already ‘regret’ 2025 driver decision appeared first on F1 Oversteer.