Ferrari Urged to Sign Verstappen Despite Hamilton’s Arrival
Despite Ferrari securing the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 Formula 1 season, motorsport commentator Tom Coronel believes the Italian team should have gone all out to sign Max Verstappen. Coronel insists Ferrari should’ve offered the Dutchman a “blank cheque” to lure him away from Red Bull Racing.
Hamilton, who left Mercedes after a long and successful stint, officially began his journey with Ferrari last week. His first visit to the team’s headquarters in Maranello included driving the 2023 Ferrari F1 car at the Fiorano circuit, an event that attracted over a thousand passionate Tifosi and international media representatives. The atmosphere was electric as fans and journalists witnessed Hamilton take to the track in the iconic red car, a move seen as both a marketing coup and a sporting gamble.
Hamilton’s arrival is expected to strengthen Ferrari’s bid for their first World Championship since 2007. The partnership brings high hopes for both on-track success and off-track commercial opportunities, with the potential to solidify Ferrari’s legacy if Hamilton clinches a record-breaking eighth World Championship title. However, questions linger about whether Ferrari signed the right driver for the job.
Coronel, who previously suggested Verstappen as the ideal candidate for Ferrari, remains adamant that the reigning World Champion would have been the better choice. He stated last year, before Hamilton’s switch was confirmed, that Ferrari’s best chance to reclaim the title was to bring Verstappen into the fold. According to him, the Scuderia should have approached Verstappen’s management with an open-ended offer, allowing the Dutch driver to name his price.
In an interview with Formule1.nl back in late 2023, Coronel explained his reasoning: “If I were Fred Vasseur [Ferrari Team Principal], I would immediately contact Max Verstappen’s management. I would hand them a blank cheque and let Max decide the number, as long as he agrees to wear Ferrari red.” Coronel believes Verstappen’s dominance in recent years, coupled with his ability to consistently extract maximum performance from his car, makes him the most valuable driver on the grid.
While Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is being hailed as a bold and historic decision, the idea of Verstappen joining Ferrari remains a tantalizing “what if” scenario. Some argue that Hamilton’s experience and proven track record could provide Ferrari with the leadership they need to return to the top, while others believe Verstappen’s youth and unmatched skill set make him the ultimate championship weapon.
As the 2025 season approaches, Ferrari finds itself at a critical juncture. The team has invested heavily in Hamilton, both financially and strategically, to end its championship drought. Yet, Coronel’s comments suggest there could have been an alternative path to success—one that involved Verstappen donning the iconic red suit.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on Hamilton as he embarks on his new chapter with Ferrari. But the question lingers: could Verstappen have been the one to lead the Scuderia back to glory?
