Jacky Ickx, a legendary Scuderia driver, doesn’t believe Lewis Hamilton’s two-year contract, which includes an option for a third year, was purely based on sporting merit. He argues that Ferrari already had a well-balanced driver line-up with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who consistently performed at a similar level.

The Spanish driver joined Ferrari in 2021, replacing four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, and spent four years racing alongside Leclerc. During that time, the Spaniard outscored the Monegasque in his first season, secured four Grand Prix victories compared to Leclerc’s six, and achieved 21 podium finishes to his teammate’s 30.

Jacky Ickx: Ferrari signed Lewis Hamilton for ‘marketing,’ leaving Carlos Sainz departure ‘sad’
The opportunity to sign Hamilton, who holds records for the most Grand Prix wins, podiums, and pole positions in F1 history, was simply too tempting for Ferrari as they entered 2024 with both Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc in the final year of their contracts. Ferrari finalized Lewis Hamilton’s signing in February, shortly after extending the Monegasque driver’s deal until 2029.

However, Jacky Ickx believes the decision wasn’t solely about Lewis Hamilton’s unparalleled on-track achievements. Instead, he views the move as heavily influenced by Hamilton’s status as one of the world’s most marketable athletes, suggesting that Carlos Sainz’s exit was driven more by commercial considerations than performance.

Jacky Ickx, speaking to *Mundo Deportivo*, expressed his thoughts on Carlos Sainz’s tenure at Ferrari and his departure from the team. He noted that Sainz had performed admirably during his time at Maranello but suggested that Ferrari’s decision to sign Lewis Hamilton may have been influenced by factors beyond pure racing merit. According to Ickx, Ferrari was likely tempted to secure Hamilton’s services for marketing reasons, as well as Hamilton’s desire to embark on a new chapter in his career and include Ferrari in his illustrious history.

Jacky Ickx emphasized that there was nothing to criticize about Sainz’s performance at Ferrari. The Spaniard had achieved success, including Grand Prix victories, but Ickx remarked that those accomplishments were now part of the past, and Carlos Sainz needed to focus on the next chapter of his career. He highlighted the multifaceted nature of Formula 1, pointing out that it’s not just about politics but also economics and marketing, although, ultimately, the goal is always to win.

The Belgian, who finished as runner-up in the drivers’ standings with Ferrari in 1970, admitted that Sainz’s departure from the Scuderia saddened him, especially given the strong performances the Spaniard delivered during his tenure. However, Jacky Ickx stressed that Sainz must now concentrate on his future with Williams and leave Ferrari behind.

Reflecting on the partnership between the Spaniard and Charles Leclerc, Jacky Ickx expressed his admiration for how well the two drivers worked together. He noted that the pairing was effective, with both drivers winning races and consistently staying close to one another in terms of performance. He acknowledged the difficulty in understanding how the decision to end that partnership came about but reiterated his disappointment over Carlos Sainz’s departure.

Ultimately, Jacky Ickx encouraged the former Ferrari man to move forward and focus on making the most of his new opportunity at Williams, rather than dwelling on what might have been. For Ickx, the key to success lies in embracing the present and doing one’s best with the resources at hand.

Ferrari, as one of the most iconic and recognizable brands in the world, didn’t necessarily need to sign Lewis Hamilton purely for marketing purposes. However, when the opportunity to secure a driver of Hamilton’s stature presents itself, it’s difficult to pass up the additional boost he brings both on and off the track.

Hamilton’s global appeal is undeniable, as highlighted by SportsPro’s 2024 rankings of the world’s most marketable athletes, where he holds the 11th spot. Topping the list is Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, followed by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, NBA legend LeBron James, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, and football icon Lionel Messi. These athletes have cemented their positions as global superstars, commanding massive audiences and brand appeal.

Notably, Hamilton outranks a host of other sporting legends in the marketability stakes. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of football’s greatest ever players, is ranked ninth, while NFL sensation Travis Kelce, who has garnered additional fame as the partner of pop superstar Taylor Swift, sits just behind Hamilton in 12th place. Rising tennis star Coco Gauff follows in 13th.

In the world of Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton leads the pack when it comes to marketability. His closest competitors, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, are ranked significantly lower, at 31st and 33rd, respectively. The British driver’s ability to transcend the sport and appeal to audiences far beyond F1 reinforces why Ferrari couldn’t ignore the value he brings, even as the Scuderia remains a powerhouse brand in its own right.

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Champion on and off the track
The Belgian, who will turn 80 on January 1, praised Hamilton’s qualities in an interview with racingnews365.com, not limiting himself solely to Sir Lewis’s talent. For one of motorsport’s legends, in fact, Hamilton should be recognized for all the activities he has engaged in outside of competition: “If you refer to Lewis, for me he is a unique driver,” he explained. “He is like Ayrton Senna, you have Max Verstappen, you have Michael Schumacher, and Juan Manuel Fangio in the early days: these people have a small advantage over others, but for me, he has a double advantage because he is a very human person who has never been afraid to get involved in Black Lives Matter, for example. He’s the only one I know today who fully commits to something, and perhaps this quality is even more impressive when you see what he does, what he cares about with his foundation. No one has ever done that before.”

A ‘red stain’
Jacky Ickx, who achieved his best results with Ferrari, is also convinced that Hamilton’s move to Maranello represents a great desire for the English driver to “stain” his heart red: “It’s clear that if you are with Ferrari for a few years after being with other brands for 10 years or more, it’s evident that your heart ends up dyed red. I see that even Lewis is attracted to being there for the end of his career. Honestly, it’s fantastic because only he knows what he can do and where he wants to go.” – the former Ferrari driver pointed out.

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The British driver will officially become part of the Scuderia on January 1st, marking him as the 98th driver to represent the iconic team in the Formula 1 World Championship. Belgian former racing driver Jacky Ickx, who competed in Formula One from 1966 to 1979 and found himself raced in 54 of his 116 Grand Prix starts with Ferrari, knows well the significance of competing for the legendary Maranello outfit.

A decorated racer, Jacky Ickx claimed six of his eight Formula 1 victories while driving for Ferrari, balancing his career in Grand Prix racing with his dominance at Le Mans, where he secured six victories in the grueling 24-hour event. Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s transition from Mercedes to the Italian side, the Belgian legend specifically highlighted Lewis Hamilton’s impactful activities beyond the racetrack.

“If you refer to Lewis, for me, he is a unique driver,” Jacky Ickx said in a recent interview for the RacingNews365 website – “It is like [Ayrton] Senna, you have Max [Verstappen], you have Michael Schumacher and [Juan Manuel] Fangio in the early days – these people have a little plus compared to the others. But to me, he is a double plus because he is a very human person who never feared to get involved in Black Lives Matter for example. He is the only one I know today who involves himself totally in something, and maybe that quality is something even more impressive than the first one when you see what he does, what he cares about with his foundation. Nobody has done that before.” – the 79-year-old Belgian pointed out.

Jacky Ickx, who twice came tantalizingly close to clinching the Formula 1 World Championship—finishing as runner-up to Sir Jackie Stewart in 1969 and again to Jochen Rindt, the sport’s only posthumous champion, in 1970—has shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated switch to Ferrari. Jacky Ickx expressed confidence that the British driver’s passion for the sport will now be deeply intertwined with the iconic scarlet of the Scuderia, remarking that his heart will inevitably be “tainted red.”

“I think if life is well made, and if you have the opportunity to do the things you like, it is easy because it does not work anymore. But it is clear that if you are at Ferrari for a few years and then other brands for 10 years or more, if you speak Ferrari, clearly your heart is tainted red at the end. I can see that even Lewis is attracted to be there for the end of his career. Honestly, it is fantastic because only he knows what he can do and where he wants to go.” – he concluded.

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Lewis Hamilton has been facing many problems in this early stage of the 2022 Formula One season. The seven-time world champion has to fight on at least three fronts: the first is linked to the lack of competitiveness of his Mercedes car as compared to Red Bull and Scuderia Ferrari; the second is related to the speed of new team mate George Russell, who has 23 points more in the Formula 1 Driver Standings ahead of round six of the championship, the Spanish Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya.

His third issue concerns the jewelry situation, with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem who supported Niels Wittich’s strict rules regarding rings, necklaces and earrings, precious items that Lewis Hamilton loves to carry around as much as possible, in the paddock as well as in the car.

However, since now not a word has been said regarding the current performance level of the British driver: at 37, is he still the same driver as always?

Former Scuderia Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx, who raced for the Maranello team in 1968 and between 1970 and 1973, has some doubts. The 1969 and 1970 world vice-champion believes that in order to be able to fight against the young and talented driver of today’s Formula 1 one must be at the peak of his career. Going through the decline phase, even if your name is Lewis Hamilton, means an almost certain defeat: “You can’t beat Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris if you are no longer at your best. As a driver, you grow to your peak performance, and then try to keep it as long as possible. As soon as you drop, you start to decline and drop very quickly from that moment. The decline is much faster than the growth you had when you were young. Did you see how exhausted the drivers were after racing in the Miami heat? Sometimes we hear that winning is easy, but it never is. You must always have maximum concentration.” – these are the words of the Belgian in an interview for Ziggo Sport during the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco.

“The important thing is that Lewis still wants to compete. He has many fans and many people who willingly follow him. Without a doubt he will still win some Grands Prix, but the time available to him at the top is running out.” – former Scuderia Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx concluded.

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Among these was also the Belgian Jacky Ickx, now 76 years old and remembered for his time with Scuderia Ferrari between the 1960s and 1970s. In that same period, moreover, he was able to become vice-world champion twice in a row, in 1969 and 1970. Interviewed by RTBF, the winner of eight Grands Prix in fact expressed his opinion not only regarding the chances of success for Max Verstappen, but also and above all his aversion to the cuurent Formula One rules, which according to the former Ferrari driver are responsible for the loss of credibility of the major world car competition.

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The six-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans thus expressed his point of view: “If Max does not win this year – he commented – it will be next year, or the one after and so on. It is inevitable. More than anything else, I am mostly frustrated by the current Formula 1 rules. For me, philosophically speaking, it should be a struggle, a battle between men who willingly accept risk. I am disappointed because these events, on the other hand, are refereed by people who are certainly of good will, but who, apart from a former driver at every grand prix, have probably never driven a racing car. Thus we destroy the very essence of the combativeness of these drivers with a succession of penalties, fines and restrictions that fundamentally change the sport. I’m really sorry to see us so far from the pleasure of this communion with the public but Formula 1 should remember a fundamental aspect: no public, no fans, no races.” – former Scuderia Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx concluded.

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