Lewis Hamilton Clarifies: Ross Brawn, Not Niki Lauda, Convinced Him to Join Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton has finally set the record straight on a long-standing misconception regarding his pivotal move to Mercedes in 2013, revealing it was Ross Brawn, then team principal, who ultimately persuaded him, not Niki Lauda.

Why it Matters

The move from McLaren, where Hamilton began his F1 career in 2007, to Mercedes was a shock at the time, widely perceived as a step backward given McLaren's superior performance. However, time vindicated Hamilton, who went on to win six World Championships with the Brackley squad, equaling Michael Schumacher's record of seven overall titles. Niki Lauda, a two-time Ferrari World Champion and Mercedes non-executive chairman, has long been credited with playing a crucial role in Hamilton's decision.

The Details

Hamilton addressed the misconception at the Italian Grand Prix after a journalist suggested Lauda had convinced him.

"Well, firstly, I have so much love for Niki. But Niki didn’t convince me to join Mercedes," Hamilton stated. "It was more Ross, really, back then. When we sat together in my mum’s kitchen, he told me where the team was going and what they were doing. Niki was definitely a part of it, but it was mostly that meeting that really pulled me in."

Brawn had sold his championship-winning Brawn GP team to Mercedes at the end of the 2009 season and remained at the helm during Mercedes' initial years as a factory team. It was his vision for the team that Hamilton found compelling.

Lauda's Enduring Legacy

Despite the clarification, Hamilton maintains an immense love and respect for Lauda, who passed away in 2019. Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton paid tribute to Lauda by recreating one of his iconic photographs from 1975, posing with his race suit and helmet on the grass verge at Monza, dedicated "A Niki."

Reflecting on his upcoming move to Ferrari, Hamilton spoke of Lauda's enduring influence.

"Niki and I had an amazing relationship," said the 40-year-old. "When I joined Ferrari, I hadn’t even thought of Niki having driven at Ferrari. It was literally just because, as a kid, I watched Michael and was a big fan of the team. I wanted to feel the passion of that crowd. Now learning more about the history, it’s amazing this weekend, because I got to celebrate Niki at Mercedes, and now to be able to come to Ferrari and celebrate him here too. His legacy continues to live on."

Hamilton also shared a personal anecdote, recalling Lauda's blunt advice: "When I didn’t do well, he would do this and he’d tell me to ‘give them hell’ – but he would always say the word ‘assholes’! I never understood it at first... But he was just such a fighter."

What's Next

Hamilton's impending move to Ferrari means he could potentially emulate Lauda's feat of winning a World Championship with the Scuderia, further intertwining their careers in F1 history.