Lewis Hamilton reveals how watching Michael Schumacher sparked his desire to race for Ferrari

Future Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has shared that watching Michael Schumacher dominate Formula 1 sparked his long-held ambition to race for the Maranello team. Now, at 40, Lewis Hamilton is set to make that dream a reality as he prepares to join the Italian team next season, departing Mercedes after 11 years. During his time with the Silver Arrows, Lewis Hamilton secured six of his seven world titles, solidifying his status as a global sports icon—comparable to Michael Schumacher, the only other driver to win seven Formula 1 championships during his career.

While Lewis Hamilton has become a source of inspiration for a new generation of racers, he himself was once motivated by Michael Schumacher’s success. The German’s reign with Ferrari left a lasting impression on the Brit, igniting his desire to one day achieve similar feats with the iconic team.

Reflecting on the influence Michael Schumacher had on his career, Lewis Hamilton told the Times: “It is so exciting because I remember as a kid watching Michael. Every driver watches that car and you’re like: ‘What would it be like to sit in the red cockpit?'”

Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher’s careers briefly overlapped, despite the German’s first retirement at the end of 2006—just months before the British driver made his Formula 1 debut. By the time the F1 legend returned to the grid in 2010, Lewis Hamilton had already secured his first world championship, which was won with McLaren.

The former Ferrari driver came out of retirement to join the newly formed Mercedes F1 team, tasked with mentoring young teammate Nico Rosberg, who would later claim the 2016 title before his own sudden retirement. In those early years, Mercedes wasn’t yet the powerhouse it would become, and Michael Schumacher didn’t secure a win during his three-season stint. However, he did reach the podium once, finishing third at the 2012 European Grand Prix which took place at the Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia.

At the same time, Lewis Hamilton was experiencing mixed fortunes at McLaren. So when Michael Schumacher announced his final retirement at the end of 2012, the British driver made the bold choice to take his place at Mercedes, a move widely seen as a gamble.

Though McLaren was competitive at the time, it later faded into midfield obscurity, while Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes proved transformative. From 2014 to 2021, the team dominated the sport, securing eight consecutive constructors’ championships and six more drivers’ titles for Lewis Hamilton. What was once considered a risk ultimately became one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history.

In 2025, Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in a bid to capture his eighth Formula 1 world championship, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles. The move marks a new chapter for the British driver, who will aim to cement his legacy by achieving unprecedented success with the iconic Italian team, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, who dominated the sport with Ferrari during the early 2000s.