Ted Kravitz has put forth his “personal theory” regarding Lewis Hamilton’s choice to move to Ferrari, suggesting it was influenced by his admiration for Ayrton Senna.
Hamilton recently revealed his decision to depart from Mercedes and join Ferrari by the conclusion of 2024, marking a significant shift for the most accomplished driver in F1 history as he aligns with the sport’s most triumphant team in 2025.
The seven-time World Champion’s departure from Mercedes follows two seasons without securing a win in 2022/23. Hamilton’s last race victory dates back to the second-to-last race of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia.
Throughout his illustrious career, Hamilton has frequently drawn parallels between himself and his childhood hero, Senna, the Brazilian racer who clinched three World Championships in four years with McLaren from 1988 to 1991.
Senna tragically lost his life in a crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola while competing for Williams. In the wake of his passing, it came to light that Senna had expressed interest in joining Ferrari during the latter phase of his career.
Former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo disclosed in 2020 that Senna had approached him about the prospect of signing with the Scuderia.
Reflecting on his tenure at Ferrari, Di Montezemolo revealed that, “Not having signed Ayrton Senna” remains his most significant regret.
He stated: “He came to my house in Bologna before the Imola accident and told me that he wanted to drive for us at all costs and to free himself from Williams.
“We agreed to speak after Imola, but then what happened. He wanted to come to us and I would have been happy to have him.
“It would have been the icing on the cake, which was then Michael Schumacher who entered Ferrari history because nobody did what he did.”
Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt corroborated Di Montezemolo’s assertions, disclosing in 2021 that he extended an offer to Senna shortly after assuming his role at Maranello in 1993.
He stated; “A few weeks after I arrived, I met Ayrton Senna during the Monza weekend at the hotel we were staying at on Lake Como. I offered him to switch to Ferrari in 1995, but he was pushing for 1994.
“We already had two drivers under contract, Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, so we couldn’t satisfy his request and when Ayrton asked why I explained the situation to him.
“He didn’t give up, telling me that in Formula 1 contracts don’t count, but I replied that for me a contract has to be respected. So we offered him a deal for 1995, but unfortunately we know what happened.”
Kravitz suggested in an interview during the pre-season testing that Hamilton’s choice to join Ferrari might have been driven by a longing to fulfill what Senna was tragically unable to achieve.
He stated: “I have a personal theory: he spent a lot of his Christmas and New Year in Brazil and we know that Ayrton was always Lewis’s childhood hero.
“Of course, you knew Ayrton Senna very well and I don’t think it’s any secret that after his Williams drive, Ayrton wanted to finish his career at Ferrari – I think that’s been documented over the years.”
Symonds concurred, asserting that Hamilton’s decision could turn out to be a stroke of genius considering Ferrari’s promising advancements last season, during which the Scuderia emerged as the sole team, aside from Red Bull, to secure a race victory.
He answered: “I think there is something in that actually, Ted. These guys are sportsmen at heart and there is that romanticism about it. Ferrari is a name, it’s what every kid dreams.
“I think he’s achieved so much. Is that a gamble worth taking? Yes, of course it is. Of course it is. And let’s face it, Ferrari were quick last year. Ferrari were better than their Championship results really showed.
“There were times when they shot themselves in the foot but, fundamentally, they had a car that was very quick in qualifying and was reasonable – not as quick as Red Bull, but reasonable in the race.
“So if they’re putting in place things to take that further, it could be a very good move.”
