Brawn, not Lauda, convinced Hamilton to switch to Mercedes

  • Published on 09 Nov 2017 12:27
  • comments 3
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Lewis Hamilton has corrected the industry-standard story about how he decided to switch from McLaren to Mercedes some years ago. According to the paddock grapevine and also the F1 legend himself, it was Niki Lauda who joined Hamilton late at night in a hotel room to convince him to make the switch for 2013.

"I love Niki and I have a great relationship with him," Hamilton, the new four-time world champion, told Brazil's Globo. "But the truth is that it was not Niki who convinced me to go to Mercedes. It was Ross Brawn. He came to my mother's house, we were having tea in the kitchen and I was like 'Why does the guy I saw on TV leading guys like Schumacher want me on his team?' It didn't make sense to me," Hamilton explained.

Brawn, now the F1 sporting boss, was once held senior positions at Ferrari and Mercedes. "That was the key day that convinced me to go to Mercedes," Hamilton added.

The 32-year-old has already wrapped up the 2017 title, but he has vowed to race on and even wants to extend his current Mercedes contract beyond next year. Hamilton said: "The question is how much longer I want to commit to this sport. I know it won't be much longer because I also want to do other things like having a family and business. There are other challenges for me," he insisted. (GMM)

RogerF1

Posts: 501

And there lies a point about whether Hamilton is the best ever, ... "how much longer I want to commit to the sport." I doubt he will have the stamina or drive to reach Schumacher's seven.

  • 1
  • Nov 9 2017 - 21:31

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • "Niki Lauda who joined Hamilton late at night in a hotel room to convince him to make the switch for 2013." Oh he was convincing, alright. ;)

    • + 0
    • Nov 9 2017 - 15:31
  • RogerF1

    Posts: 501

    And there lies a point about whether Hamilton is the best ever, ... "how much longer I want to commit to the sport." I doubt he will have the stamina or drive to reach Schumacher's seven.

    • + 1
    • Nov 9 2017 - 21:31
  • blade

    Posts: 341

    Roger - I strongly suspect he will keep going until he is top of all the key stats in F1 - I see 92 race wins in his sights now.

    • + 0
    • Nov 11 2017 - 08:30

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:32

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:32

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,430
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 215
  • Country GB
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Tewin, GB
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar