This year’s Formula 1 driver market season was not as much of a silly season as it was expected to be so far; all the news has been about drivers retaining their seats. If you are disappointed about this year’s so-called silly season not being silly enough, don’t worry; here are some of the most shocking driver moves the sport has seen so far.
It’s the time when the fate of the drivers is being decided, and sometimes these decisions are predictable, while other times the driver moves leave fans dumbstruck.
Lewis Hamilton from McLaren to Mercedes to Ferrari
It took a bit of time to get used to seeing Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari red.
Silver Arrows were cemented into Hamilton’s identity; it’s the team where the British driver raced for 12 seasons and 246 races and won six out of his seven world drivers’ championships (WDC).
Hamilton started his career with McLaren at the age of 10. He met then McLaren boss Ron Dennis and famously told him he wanted to race for McLaren.
He joined the McLaren development academy at the age of 13.
On March 18 2007, the British driver made his debut for McLaren and ended up on the podium in his debut F1 race.
He missed the WDC by just one point and went on to win the next season. McLaren started losing competitiveness, and Hamilton felt he needed a new environment, and he believed in the long-term project of Mercedes.
At the time, his decision was criticized, and most experts called it a mistake. Former McLaren driver Niki Lauda himself convinced him to join the team. One year later, the hybrid era began, and he won his first championship with the team. The rest is history.
Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull to Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel joined Red Bull in 2009 and won four championships (2010-2013). After the 2014 regulation changes, Red Bull was on the back foot.
Having won the 4 championships, Vettel was looking for a new challenge, and what better place to be at than Ferrari?
Like most F1 drivers, Vettel also dreamed of racing for Ferrari.
Ferrari was also looking for someone new after Alonso’s departure. Vettel got his maiden Ferrari win only in his second race for the team. He came close to winning championships in 2017 and 18 but Mercedes were too dominant in the era.
He won 14 races but was unable to secure a championship and left the team in 2020.
Michael Schumacher from Benetton to Ferrari
After winning two consecutive titles with Benetton in a move which shocked the F1 world at the time, Michael Schumacher decided to move to Ferrari. The team were in disarray at the time, but Jean Todt convinced him and assured him that the team had long-term vision.
Schumacher signed a lucrative contract worth $60 million. He also helped to assemble a dream team by recruiting Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne, who later followed from Benetton. The team was built around him.
The first four seasons were difficult, but the team found its footing in the year 2000 when they won their first title in 21 years, and it didn’t stop there.
Schumacher went on to win three more titles in a row. This is considered one of the most successful driver transfers in F1 history.
Emerson Fittipaldi from McLaren to Fittipaldi Automotive
Emerson Fittipaldi is considered one of the motorsport legends who earned McLaren their first WDC in 1974. Before that, he had won his first championship with Lotus.
A major shock came in 1975 when the Brazilian decided to join his brother’s team, Fittipaldi Automotive.
The constructor was heavily funded by the Brazilian sugar and alcohol cooperative Copersucar and raced under a Brazilian license. He was unable to get the similar pace he was used to with McLaren and Lotus.
It was an underwhelming five-season stint with no wins. The team ended its operations in 1982 due to massive debts and a major sponsor backing out.
The Brazilian retired from F1 and joined the American CART series and won a prestigious CART title in 1984.
Ayrton Senna: from Lotus to McLaren
After his two years at Lotus, where he got five wins despite the team’s declining competitiveness, he made a move to McLaren in 1988 and won the WDC in his very first year with McLaren.
He went on to win two more titles with the Woking outfit. His rivalry with team-mate Alain Prost became one of the iconic rivalries in F1 history.
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