Piero Ferrari hinted to Quartararo about Hamilton F1 signing
Yamaha MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo has revealed that Piero Ferrari hinted to the Frenchman of its signing of Lewis Hamilton to its Formula 1 team during a factory visit.
Ferrari dropped a bombshell on the motorsport world earlier this month when it announced that it had signed seven-time F1 champion Hamilton for 2025.
It will bring to an end a fruitful 11-year partnership with the Mercedes F1 team, whom Hamilton joined from McLaren at the end of 2012 and won six of his seven world titles between 2014 and 2020.
Quartararo is a known F1 fan and lover of cars, and prior to MotoGP pre-season testing kicking off he took a trip to Ferrari’s Maranello base at the end of January.
The 2021 MotoGP champion was shown around by Piero Ferrari, son of the marque’s founder Enzo.
In an interview with Motorsport.com, Quartararo revealed that Ferrari insinuated to him that Hamilton would be joining its F1 team – but he didn’t realise it until after the announcement.
“It was strange, because I was visiting Maranello a couple of days before the announcement and Piero Ferrari suggested it to me,” Quartararo said.
“But at that moment I didn’t know how to interpret it, I didn’t get it. I didn’t fall for it until it became official.”
Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14, battles with Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Commenting on the news, Quartararo added: “I always remember Lewis at Mercedes. I’m not even aware of his time at McLaren.
“It’s going to be strange to see him dressed in red.”
Hamilton has repeatedly expressed his love of motorcycles and MotoGP before, making several visits to the MotoGP paddock over the years.
In 2019, through mutual sponsorship between Mercedes and Yamaha, Hamilton and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi engaged in a ride swap.
At Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, Hamilton rode Rossi’s M1 Yamaha MotoGP bike for the first time while the latter took control of his title-winning Mercedes from that year.
Hamilton has not since sampled MotoGP machinery, while Rossi retired from the series at the end of 2021 to pursue a career in GT racing.
Quartararo had been in talks about driving a Mercedes F1 car in 2022, but nothing came of it.
Former Yamaha works rider Jorge Lorenzo did test a 2014-spec W05 F1 car at Silverstone.
Share Or Save This Story
Honda chooses Luca Marini's crew chief for Fabio Quartararo's arrival
Marc Marquez's relentless comeback: 'Nobody knows the stress I've been through'
How Trackhouse is preparing for the post-Davide Brivio era
Lewis Hamilton keeps fourth in F1 Belgian GP as mechanic escapes unhurt
Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" Lewis Hamilton penalty in F1 Belgian GP
Why Charles Leclerc’s battle of the brakes has left him trailing Lewis Hamilton
"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win
Why Charles Leclerc wasn’t penalised for clash with Oscar Piastri in Belgian GP
Why Fred Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now
Kimi Antonelli champagne bottle message earns praise after F1 Belgian GP win
IndyCar race at Nashville delayed by both World Cup Final and rain showers
Winners and loser from F1's Belgian Grand Prix
Isack Hadjar lauded after impressive Red Bull recovery at F1 Belgian GP
Momentum restored: Antonelli overcomes bad luck to reclaim control at the Belgian GP
The data that reveals how different Spa is under F1's 2026 rules
How Antonelli found half a second to thwart Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying
How Franco Colapinto has survived and thrived in the hothouse intensity of F1
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments