How Mercedes nearly messed up signing Lewis Hamilton... twice

[@EllaGP22]

“By the time Mclaren got their first win since Hamilton left, Hamilton was already a seven-time world champion.” That really puts into perspective how much of a master stroke Hamilton’s move was.

[@flasbaaa]

Yes, but we have to be honest a put some facts into this. First and the most important. Rules changes at 2014. Mercedes knews very much earlier how new engines will be looks like then other teams. Also influence of Martin Whitmarsh and departure of Ronn had big role of McLaren fall and we cannot forget very poor years with Honda power. So yeah, in those years it does not looked like very smart move. Even in his first season with Mercedes in 2013, he won only one race. His achievement with Mercedes are stunning and he deserve all of respect, but this decision could been also very bad as it shows up as very very good.

[@racingbecky4155]

And also puts a point in how deep the Shit McLaren is into right now. And has been since 2013-

[@jamesantill5065]

​@@flasbaaa So how exactly did Merc know about the engine before the others? The engine design is agreed by a committee that includes the usual 3/4 plus attended by Porsche and I believe some US manufacturers too. Im fact the whole change to 'road relevant' engines was prompted by Red Bull's supplier Renault with a threat to leave without a change! Merc *may* have got on with the new design sooner than Renault but that was down to Renault's incompetence rather than Merc having so mythical advantage.

[@Jeansie13]

There wasn't a single person back in 2012 who thought this move was a good idea. Masterstroke in hindsight.

[@Euclides287]

Yeah, but with the benefit of hindsight, everyone and their dog now claims they knew it would be a successful move. 😂

[@soundscape26]

Yes, it was quite the shock back then.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Lewis had the best car last year and couldnt beat Max….lolololol

[@soundscape26]

@@hectorshouse7348 Mercedes and Red Bull were even last year, but what does that even have to do with this discussion?

[@harsharip]

@@Euclides287 dude 😎😎🆒🆒🆒😎 Lulu's are like "Yeah 2012, i knew Sir Lewis Hamilton will win with Mercs" Same goes to Riccardo as well , people were considered McLaren move as Lulu's merc move never turned out good for them

[@siraajdin2591]

Crazy how successful this move has turned out to be. I remember my dad raging at the time saying he’s chosen the money over success.

[@Felyxx]

It was funny because he'd been on Top Gear and even Clarkson said about the move "Isn't it like moving from Manchester United to West Ham?" Think he is eating his words right now.

[@hugonubario]

I still remember reading in sunday newspaper that he was leaving mclaren I told myself he will ruin his career Even the Kaiser failed to perform good enough He proved us wrong

[@pn5984]

At first, it seemed like an odd move, but people seem to forget that they weren't rubbish in 2013 at all, finishing in second in the constructor's. What a move this turned out to be. Lewis and Mercedes have built such a symbiosis that it's hard to mention one without mentioning the other.

[@Arif-oc9uu]

@user-tt3yj4lt4u I guess it's looks like now the same for Red Bull and Max. FIA has replaced Merc with RB in future regulations.

[@adam346]

@A Z ditto with RB and Max's win in 2020, they deliberately crippled the Mercs by cutting out the floor, fully knowing it would hurt Mercs/Aston more than any other high-rake car.

[@SamuelHiti]

Knowing this now. That picture of him winning his title and the Honda on fire gives it so much more meaning.

[@apc9681]

Villeneuve trying to comeback is the funniest thing in this video, what goes through that guys head

[@benjimc1]

Explains a lot tbh

[@mistertheking]

never hurts to try, honestly.

[@rolex2tone]

Plus he's the closest person to the triple crown in recent history missed out by getting 2nd in LeMans

[@zzgaming29]

“You have moved from McLaren to Mercedes, is that not a bit like moving from Manchester United to West Ham” - Jeremy Clarkson 2013

[@vincentcollins1017]

you have moved from McLaren to Mercedes , isnt that like moving from Manchester united to Westham

[@cp3190]

He moved from Mclaren-Mercedes to Mercedes. Mercedes controlled the engine supply from when they came into f1.

[@sv_racing1075]

@@cp3190 it’s a TopGear reference😉

[@Euclides287]

@@cp3190 It's not that straightforward. Ricciardo tried a similar move when he left Red Bull for Renault and failed. Engine suppliers are not always better than their costumer teams.

[@paulbugoni2846]

@@Euclides287 Renault don’t have Newey, silly move by Ricci. Engines were equal but that was it.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Lewis had the best car last year and couldnt beat Max….lolololol

[@isaacm2374]

Hamilton F1 story and journey feels like a Hollywood movie. His rise so rapid and his success was so immediate that he surpassed the high expectations everyone had for him.

[@robertvanzant2653]

Yes that’s the benefits of having a second lap advantage with the best car for eight years! Look at him now very very average

[@TheNotoriousB.E.N.]

@Crispin Mcgahan Bell I mean he wasn’t “much older” than most rookies, he was 21 or 22 only a few years difference to a rookie today

[@TheNotoriousB.E.N.]

@Crispin Mcgahan Bell oh yeah but drivers like max and even lance are quite rare exceptions, joining the grid in your early twenties is quite normal

[@dmaharry7976]

@@robertvanzant2653 well put Robert. He was smashed by his rivals and teammates since day 1 !! Even though he had a faster car than them.

[@MJisAGlorifiedDemarDerozen]

@@robertvanzant2653 🤡🤡

[@Stefan-qy4ro]

I wonder if Lauda was still around, whether he would of been able to work his magic on Leclerc after Hamilton retires and get him for Merc

[@aimanfitri0iv]

it could have been but unfortunately not going to happen because he passed away three years ago in 2019

[@slainehalouze7775]

Actually he might have noticed Leclerc before his death, as Toto said Mercedes would be happy to sign Leclerc after his Ferrari contract

[@Hydraav2]

Highly doubt that ever being an option for Charles. George will already be well established at Mercedes by then, he won’t want to go there and squabble over who gets to be the #1 driver.

[@ganeshiyer3797]

Don’t need lauda for that Ferrari will do it!

[@UnfeelingMonster]

I think Lando is a more appealing merc target tbh. Fits the brand better

[@PH-jv4ik]

I feel like Lewis to Mercedes probably changed the careers of quite a few drivers probably one of the mosy influential moves in the last decade

[@silvar2912]

yeah imagine Alonso in at Mercedes, he'd be lethal

[@PH-jv4ik]

@@silvar2912 He'd probably have had Hamiltons records

[@zakr1187]

@@PH-jv4ik no chance

[@PH-jv4ik]

@@zakr1187?

[@beanlentil]

@@PH-jv4ik Vettel would still be winning titles since Rosberg and Alonso relations could fall apart faster than Hamilton-Rosberg or Hamilton-Alonso relations

[@ShineStreet]

this is indeed one of the most crucial partnerships in f1, hamilton became synonymous with mercedes and mercedes became synonymous with hamilton.

[@sayharris1361]

God bless Nikki Lauda for convincing Lewis to signing with Mercedes.

[@ThrottleBody]

The best drivers end up in the best cars. Choosing your path wisely is such a key part of an F1 drivers’s success. Look at Lewis and look at Fernando.

[@antoniopaveskovic1990]

Yeah, look at Alonsos move at Bahrain. Lmao what are you saying you twat, Alonso is miles better than Hamilton lol.

[@19megamustaine85]

@@antoniopaveskovic1990 Alonso has a better car now since over a decade !where was he in the 2010s ?

[@SahilM18]

Its funny how people claim Lewis only drove the best cars to the championship (as the comments here already show), but easily forget how laughable this move was at the time.

[@Boomw17]

The most iconic driver move in retrospective in the history of the sport. Many will try and replicate lewis and Merc success and many will come short.

[@schumifan78]

It was only Mercedes success really, as they were going to win every title from 2014-2020 with, or without Lulu, their engine was just so dominant a monkey could have won in those cars.

[@thomassievers3362]

Schumacher making Ferrari superior again with his team was the greatest era in the sport, Lewis is good, but Schumacher joined a team who had no perspective and turned it around, at Mercedes it was Schumacher and Rosberg who did the legwork, Lewis just capitalized, so no, He ain’t the goat, and never will be

[@rjharikumar6555]

​@@thomassievers3362- Just of curiosity, what exactly is your criteria for a driver to be regarded as a GOAT?

[@Willbrse]

One history where the bet worked: Hamilton. One where it didn't: Ricciardo. 😬

[@Nondas8552]

The difference is that mercedes is run by germans and renault is run by the french

[@soundscape26]

@@Nondas8552 I think he's referring to McLaren not Renault.

[@beanlentil]

@@soundscape26 Ricciardo didn't trust Renault back in 2019, which was way too naive of him but in hindsight it could've been worse considering Rossi coming in could still screw up Ricciardo's career (still unlikely) in an alternate timeline, Ocon signs for McLaren instead of Renault (I'd lowkey like that ngl)

[@rpols22]

This was an excellent video. The detail in the explanation of the Hamilton/Mercedes deal was second to none. IMO, this is the best F1 channel.

[@Wiggy321]

I remember when the news dropped about the move to MB. I was like, he's crazy for making such a move, especially coming in to replace Michael.

[@550LMS]

Ron Dennis also offered a salary reduction initially. I do believe in the very end (last few days before the Merc announcement) he offered to match Merc's offer. Lauda told Lewis very plainly: Follow the money. Merc was Mclaren's biggest contributor, and with purchasing Brawn a few years before it and Brawn/Schumacher/Costa laying the foundations, they where going to go for titles in 2014. Factory support for Mclaren was only going to drop off more and more.

[@beanlentil]

Spygate was one of the catalyst imho, especially with the strain it put on Mercedes, McLaren, and Ron Dennis

[@Jess-dg6wo]

Me 2012 : Hamilton move to Merc announced : Wtf are u doing Me 2022 : Yep definitely knew that he going to succeed on Merc

[@Lucas-zp6dx]

The grid today would be a whole lot different if Hamilton hadn't moved to Mercedes.

[@elaldo2382]

The 2006 Honda talks are somewhat of a surprise to me. I'm sure Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button both had contracts in place for 2007 as Rubens was signed on a multi-year deal to get him away from Ferrari and Jenson famously argued away from Williams for Honda for 06 and beyond. I wonder who would have been turfed out?

[@peterfighter]

Barrichello was older and slower, so probably him.

[@gregellis7493]

Minor detail i know but didn't Jenson want to Move to BMW Williams in 2005? The CRB (where have we heard that before - Piastri *cough cough) stated Button had a Concreate Contract with Honda. Glad it worked out like it did.

[@elaldo2382]

@@gregellis7493 that was all sorted by the end of 2005. That's why these Hamilton talks are confusing me in 2006. Both Button and Barrichello would have had contracts for 2007.

[@gregellis7493]

@@elaldo2382 I haven't seen the video yet. So Button wanted to Move to Williams in 2006? Is that why Honda moved for lewis that year? Lewis won his F2 championship in 06. So Williams would of had Button and Rosberg in 2006? Yes I've said 2006 a lot of times here lol

[@elaldo2382]

@@gregellis7493 the video is showing evidence that Hamilton was talking to Honda in 2006 about a race seat for 2007 to put pressure on Mclaren who were taking too long to decide if they'd promote him alongside Alonso. If Honda had won out he would have been driving the Earth car in 2007. Difficult to imagine but with both Button and Barrichello having contracts for 2007, I can only imagine this would have ended up back in the CRB as well

[@NicotineRosberg]

U guys finding content is remarkable. I'm here for it

[@dane458]

Most successful team and driver in F1 history. What a Legend! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@OSD_in_Depth]

Not true.. Ferrari is way more successful then mercedes

[@harry4454]

​@@OSD_in_Deptheh they haven't been competitive throughout a season since 07. And If it weren't for schumi magic they wouldn't have been challenging since the 70s

[@ishshah8695]

@@harry4454 and if it wasn't for Hamilton or Rosberg, Mercedes would still be nothing in F1. Drivers are a large part of the teams success. Ferrari are still the most successful team in F1 and that's fact, means fuck all if the success hasn't been recent xD

[@Felyxx]

@G0alz not "way more" but indeed, ferrari has more titles and more wins. As it stands though, I am not sure that will be the case in 10 years.

[@harry4454]

@@ishshah8695 oh for sure drivers are a huge part and I think ferrari are the most iconic team they are the most successful for titles but I think to win 8 titles in a row is just utterly insane and I would assume Merc in the next 5-10 years would have outpassed ferrari

[@hendriktonisson2915]

Imagine if Mercedes had hired Paul di Resta instead of Lewis Hamilton in 2013.

[@karl8805]

Exactly paul di resta would have 5 or 6 wdc

[@gamingnoah9807]

@@karl8805 yeah right

[@teknikairaoulolgandessabek4102]

@@karl8805 Paul di Resta is an average driver, even in DTM and WEC. Nico Rosberg would have won 4 titles, Vettel 6 titles and Verstappen would have been chamipion one year earlier in 2020.

[@karl8805]

@@teknikairaoulolgandessabek4102 so was bottas, yet he had 0 race wins, 0 fastest laps, never beat ham, never got pole, never got a podium, then merc happened and it made him number 2 driver many times....

[@Lamlerongy]

@@teknikairaoulolgandessabek4102 bottas got 7 more points that season

[@9112001234]

Really love you guys and great work, but please stop ending your videos abruptly

[@chicobicalho5621]

Lauda was the man, and Mercedes management knew it. And Hamilton knows it. Lauda the legend, lives forever.

[@redbadger2656]

I can be honest, I did think hamilton was making a mistake moving to Merc in 2013... but damn how wrong I was!

[@LuciferMorningstarDanny]

Nice informative video to arrive home from work to. Cheers guys , nice work.

[@fischerwiesen]

No mentioning of how Lauda not only was the mastermind behind bring Lewis to Merc and making them the force to beat, but also being the mastermind behind bring Michael Schumacher to Ferrari, which lead to them being the force on the grid… and funny to think that Toto almost was the one telling Merc not to sign LH

[@superxavxii421]

Probably the best decision of all time ngl.

[@stevenschuster]

Poor J. Villeneuve. That reminds me, a great video would be who's had the biggest drop off in pace/form in F1 history? Villeneuve ? Riccardo? Any others?

[@danielthedoc]

The best part of this video is that it's not powered by how

[@aimanfitri0iv]

it's going to be the biggest messed up for the past several decades

[@chamindujanith6337]

You mean the guy who beat 7-time WDC Michael Schumacher in equal machinery? Nothing wrong with him winning 7 titles

[@aimanfitri0iv]

@@chamindujanith6337 no there is nothing wrong with that one

[@AlonsoRules]

I thought he was throwing his career away chasing money. In the 10 years since, McLaren have one win.

[@Javadamutt]

If Nikki Lauda walked up and told me the deal was done...even if I hadn't heard of said deal or signed anything or didn't even want to, I would just take his word for it. Anything that man says he had put his mind to and it will happen. You're better just accepting that.

[@The666opal111]

TRUU LULW

[@minardi028]

one got the feeling that not much would have changed for Mercedes though. Still the same championship wins just with different drivers. This signing was the turning point for Lewis Hamilton, not for Mercedes.

[@muntublackson4757]

no. thatsabsolute bs. without lewis, ferrari and seb would have had 2-3 chips, why are we acting like lewis didnt/woesnt make the difference between '17 '18 and '19

[@minardi028]

@@muntublackson4757 your opinion man, all good. For me its a no. Mercedes outperform Ferrari in the car developement on the second part of the seasons you are mentioning and this is the reason they got the championship.

[@xamsedalabay6809]

If any driver could do it why pay Hamilton 30 million when 95 percent of the drivers are cheaper.

[@minardi028]

@@xamsedalabay6809 look dude i dont want to argue. If you think that Mercedes whould be championship-less without Hamilton thats fine with me. I follow F1 25 years now and I have an opinion of my own. Geaorge Russell jumped in that Mercedes for a week, in an ill fitting cockpit and practicaly got the win. You can be a Hamilton fan but you cant deny the reality. Mercedes was the car to be in in the hybrid era.

[@joshuabanda6204]

0:12 You said six world championships ...bro it's seven 😏🔥

[@ducedevlstear2471]

Well, but it's still 7 together with Nico's.

[@ducedevlstear2471]

@norman-m [KANDAGAIGO] nah, you got that correct 👍🏻 That's what they really meant. I only brought another fact to complete the picture 🎩

[@rytis6038]

And that is what it means to make the right decisions at the right time. I honestly think that if not for akward timings Alonso could have been in Hamiltons shoes. And the live example for that is Ricciardo.. Strange how life works

[@leonmalaga16]

Alonso´s issue isnt timing, it´s burning bridges. He can´t get a seat in any of the top 3 teams because of his actions or words, not his driving ability

[@ryanjonathanmartin3933]

@leonf1fan1998 Remember what happened in Hungary 2007 😗? That's why Mercedes don't want Alonso. In fact Norbert Haug wanted to fire him on the spot, but Ron Dennis negotiated with Norbert and he eventually relented. Alonso and Ron terminated Alonso's McLaren contract at the end of '07.

[@Euclides287]

Mercedes were worse than *Lotus,* and *McLaren* was the 2nd best team in F1 when Hamilton decided to leave for a *midfield team* at end of 2012. That's why everyone, including his *world champion teammate* and team principal came out and said he was making a career suicide move.

[@motorsportfan3202]

Stop being such a fanboy, Mercedes and Ross brawn were always going to improve, you make it out to be like it was a minardi, and that Mercedes weren’t pouring their millions in. No I’m sorry, I was incorrect with the amount, billions.

[@rodracer4567]

@@motorsportfan3202 IIRC the funding from Daimler only makes up a fraction of the Mercedes F1 team's budget. And while Mercedes did look like they were gonna improve back then, I highly doubt anyone predicted the "8 straight years of dominance" kind of success.

[@LongHaulGamingHD1]

Even while viewing this with the optics during 2012 I find it surprising that Mercedes felt 30 million (around 40 million today) was a steep asking price. Hamilton was in the prime of his career, a former champion, proven race winner, marketable already at that stage, all while in unreliable and sometimes uncompetitive machinery. Since his debut he's never been within at least an earshott of the world title up the that point, just seems foolish to think of saving money in a sport that demands you to go all in to see the rewards.

[@Fxrris]

In summary. Hamilton is the glue

[@randomturkyt]

if hamilton joined honda he probably still couldve been able to be 7 time champ cuz of brawn gp and he would still be in mercedes

[@fishsticks6668]

When Lauda wants you to sign a contract, you will sign that contract. Consent isn't necessary.

[@Haseeb2k08]

To put in perspective in the last 3 race wins mclaren you have Daniel ricciardo,jenson button,lewis hamilton even though he left over a decade ago.

[@atharvakate5165]

No matter what lewis does some People will keep hating on him

[@adityanarain9428]

Yep sad part of F1. I love Seb but there's no doubt that Lewis is a contender for GOAT. I'm happy that Vettel managed to compete against a talent like Lewis even though it could've been very different if Vettel won one with Ferrari.

[@atharvakate5165]

@@adityanarain9428 Bhai bata tune bhi Vettel ko dekha hein India ? Seb and Lewis have always been the best drivers for me

[@Euclides287]

That comes with greatness. Senna was the most hated driver in F1 the year he tragically past away. Shumacher was the villian in most people's eyes by the time he retired for the first time in 2006. Then Vettel, then Hamilton and now Max is the target since he's the one winning without being challenged by anybody.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Lewis had the best car last year and couldnt beat Max….lolololol

[@hectorshouse7348]

@norman-m [KANDAGAIGO] thank for the feedback 👍

[@tiggie_96]

This is one of those moves that worked out perfectly with all moving parts. From Niki, Lewis, Toto, Michael Schumacher, etc. I doubt it would’ve been the same if you take out one person from the lineup

[@dsistudios8446]

Backlash... Hamilton has been doubted from day 1.

[@tuffmanchannel]

Anyone making a move like that back in 2012 would have been considered crazy. Had Button, Vettel or Alonso made that move, the same feedback would have been given.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Lewis had the best car last year and couldnt beat Max….lolololol

[@tuffmanchannel]

@@hectorshouse7348 how is this related to the original comment lmao

[@dsistudios8446]

@@tuffmanchannel really? Nah not buying it.

[@dsistudios8446]

@Crispin Mcgahan Bell the level of vitriol was beyond the norm.

[@SHEEPeros]

"Hands off mein wallet"' @4:13 is a proper lolfull moment xD

[@whassupg89]

If Honda signed Hamilton, does alonso win the 07 and 08 champs for McLaren?

[@isaacm2374]

Easily. Without Hamilton entrance into F1 especially with Mclaren, Alonso would have been a 4 time champion before 2010. It's clear Alonso still think about that to this day.

[@peterfighter]

Hamilton and Alonso were taking points from each other and Hamilton is the reason why Alonso left McLaren, so it's quite possible. Maybe 2010 as well.

[@ducedevlstear2471]

@@peterfighter the "new golden boy of McLaren" title is the reason why Alonso left.

[@Kieran_OPC]

I'd absolutely have loved to see Lewis driving then 2021 mclaren, I think he would've won probably around 6 races that season at least if he was in the mcl35m

[@teknikairaoulolgandessabek4102]

I remember Martin Brundle doubting any future sucess with Mercedes then.

[@connorappleton1945]

I burst into laughter when Jacques Villeneuve got brought into the video 😆

[@charliefoxtrott1048]

Some forget that Mercedes 2012 was a mere shadow of the Mercedes 2014 to 2021

[@CX0909]

Four single events, not of his making, cost him four world titles. His losses alone would make for a legendary driver legacy. Had Mclaren pitted Lewis earlier at the ‘07 Chinese GP before his tires wore down to the white cords showing through and his car slid off the track and into a bizarre gravel trap, in the wet on pit entry…. Had his left front tire not delaminated, crashing him out from a 2nd place scoring position, at the end of the ‘10 Spanish GP (thanks to @Gaming for correcting me on this)…. Had his seemingly bullet proof Mercedes engine not blown up from the lead in ’16 near the end of the Malaysian GP…. Had Latifi not crashed and or the stewards FOLLOWED PROTOCOL on race restart in ‘21 at Abu Dhabi (Max was 12 seconds behind before the crash and was never going to catch Lewis)…. He would be an 11 times WDC. Think about that…..

[@user-ck7jv1hn8k]

There are 4. His tire delaminated in Spain 2010. Had that not happened he would have won that year’s title as well.

[@CX0909]

@@user-ck7jv1hn8k I think I had just wiped those later Mclaren years from memory as they were so frustrating. Kind of like Kimi’s time at Mac. Thanks for the correction!

[@MENQN]

That Lewis Hamilton signing was the most important thing Mercedes could of ever done as Hamilton was the real GOAT and not Schumacher who Hamilton replaced and that Hamilton was the best driver transfer in F1s History as he was the Real Deal and Lewis always means business on the track also is the most followed and famous driver and is very much loved.

[@Amit_Kumar_Trivedi]

Mercedes would have won the constructors and the drivers the same number of times even without LH. We are underestimating the role of machine when it comes to competitive racing between different cars. Put him in a Williams and he will not win. No doubt he is one of the best drivers but not signing it would not have affected Mercedes. it would have been bad for LH though just as wrong selections affected other top drivers of the era.

[@Monstermatt001]

The car is a big part, but the formidable driver/team parings require a great driver working to develop the car with great engineers. Edit: They also require great management

[@paulbugoni2846]

Mercedes made Hamilton, the car was so much faster initially that MB had to turn the engine down to keep FIA at bay. Throw in the illegal tire test in 2013 which helped them tremendously with dialing in the 2014 car, tokens and testing/development bans and you have MB domination. As for a driver developing a car those days are long gone as sensors, computers, etc. can tell an engineer how a car is behaving far more accurately than a driver can. It’s an engineering championship first and foremost now. Been following F1 since the mid 70s but F1has lost the plot the turbo hybrid era. Would love to see a return to the smaller simple v8s with simple front and rear wings, etc. simplify the car (thus reducing costs) and make the driver count more.

[@hectorshouse7348]

Lewis had the best car last year and couldnt beat Max….lolololol

[@Amit_Kumar_Trivedi]

Explain to me that if Mercedes had signed Alonso, Vettel or Riccardo any other good driver, how would that have changed the outcome of Merc not winning the championships it won. And at no point I am saying LH is bad or incapable. Let is discuss a scenario where LH had joined Ferrari and Vettel had joined Mercedes. Would he have not succeeded to the same extent? Just for info, been watching F1 since 1997 season. Merceds was dominant for 5 seasons the way Ferrari was in 2001 to 2004

[@carolinacraiggaming]

3:55 Don’t do Toto like that 😂

[@quigglyz]

Messed up? LOL no. They would have been fine with nearly any driver. Their engineers are geniuses who created the greatest race car of all time. Give them the credit they deserve FFS

[@obione51499]

It is currently… 3:52 am.

[@codybutler1012]

Great piece of content. Keep it coming!

[@LDTOK-zs8oz]

The best career move in F1 history.

[@birandkoray]

Nico Hülkenberg disliked the video

[@hg8843]

PLEASE NARRATE / ANNOUNCE THE SCENE CHANGES (for the listeners)

[@gmfan09]

This story gives off serious Ricciardo/Renault vibes. I’m sure Danny looked back at this situation and saw how taking a huge risk can have huge payoffs. Just didn’t work out the same way it did for Hamilton.

[@harry4454]

If only Mclaren didn't mess up in China 2007

[@doghat1619]

Hamilton drove into the gravel on his own. I don't see how that's Mclaren's fault.

[@harry4454]

@@doghat1619 yes on tyres he had no business being on. He literally lost a title because mclaren kept him out until the car was on its canvas in wet conditions

[@jonathankfouri3431]

Weird to think, a start at BAR/Honda would have made no difference on his championship tally... only maybe his win tally. Just don't think there would have been the same buzz around him

[@teemeaux3830]

Lewis and lauda is why I rock with the team.

[@Switll72]

Your headline is wrong should have read "How Hamilton nearly missed out on signing with Mercedes" Imagine they signed Vettel, Alonso or even retained Schumacher or maybe signed Rosberg sooner .... How different history would have been.

[@lovelehstuff]

Jeremy Clarkson got this one so wrong 😂

[@Felyxx]

I remember him saying "Isn't it like going from Man Utd to West Ham?" If he'd have said Paris Saint Germain instead of West Ham' he would have basically gotten then analogy perfectly right. 🤣

[@soundscape26]

@@Felyxx Man City to be even more accurate.

[@Felyxx]

@soundscape26 true, was thinking of Man City too but I think they were bought a few years earlier. PSG happened right around the time Hamilton moved.

[@soundscape26]

@@Felyxx Yes, makes sense temporally... I was just keeping it within the Premier League.

[@mafiousbj]

Imagine if the move didn't happen...we would be talking about Rosberg as the GOAT of F1 and German drivers dominance being almost undisputed in the 21 st century. Amazing how one move can change so much, even the best drivers still need great teams to accomplish everything they do week after week. Hamilton could have suffered all the misfortunes at Mclaren an be labelled a fluke if he didn't move teams!

[@kpslick]

How they nearly messed up signing Hamilton? It would have made absolutely zero difference who was in the car.

[@alexfrederick7862]

if my math is correct...Schumi paid 50 mill per year without performance > 30 mill for Lewis with real stats, how is Lewis costing Mercedes more? Makes no sense.

[@F1Guy-Guy]

That Hamilton has transformed F1 and has made it his own The Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton Show

[@mrsoisauce9017]

Curious to see if Audi’s F1 story will be similar to Mercedes’s story, and if a switch to another team from a prodigy driver (maybe Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc or Lando Norris) will change the fate of the entire team

[@christopherpartridge640]

Could this be one for #BringBackV8s

[@ducedevlstear2471]

How about bring back no limits on cylinder configuration ?

[@ignatiusng1843]

Honestly Schumacher was always going to stop after 2012 and just nice, Hamilton was available

[@titancheat]

From what I understand the craziest part is it could have been hulkenberg at McLaren and then Mercedes instead of Lewis 🤯

[@robh9577]

Put your self in the shoes of Lewis. The notoriously unreliable McLaren let him down every other week, the car itself was inconsistent/slow. Seb was in the middle of cleaning up every race day, there was no chance for him to win at McL. So Niki tells him about the upcoming rules changes and their ace in the hole (engine) and the fact that Mercedes would have a blank check for development and to a degree, his wages, its actually a no brainer. The only ones who were somewhat competitive were Ferrari, and obviously with Alonso there it was a hard NO. What else could he do but wait McL to build a good car, which still hasn't happened.

[@richardlong6097]

It's not surprising he downplays anyone else's involvement, even a great like Lauda. Ultimately it was little more than dumb luck, taking a single title and year after year of failure and moving right before Merc built a car seconds a lap faster than everyone else. Mercs rise was as fast as it was out of the blue, nailing arguably the largest rule change in F1 history. Turning a 1 or possibly 2 title career guy into a run of dominance unrivaled.

[@rynosraceroom66]

Damn ! That was good content .

[@Batman22222]

Your next ' Mistake ' can change your life......Never forget that !

[@DK-yj1ez]

If Hamilton wasn't in Mercedes.. All it means is.... there will be another name as a 7 time world champion. 🙄

[@random_username_thats_not_used]

Probably Rosberg if he didn't retire in 2014

[@RadityaPramanaPutra2001]

@@random_username_thats_not_used He retire in 2016, mate.

[@jj4429]

Should be an 8 time champ

[@blakebarone1809]

Not to sound like a hater, but if Merc knew they’d have 5 seasons (14-16, 19-20) of uncontested victories and 2 seasons of contested wins (17-18), they probably just would have kept Schumacher with Nico. No way Schumi would have turned that down.

[@lancelot_53]

Villeneuve looking for an F1 Return 🤣

[@michaelsanders3395]

Can we talk about Hamilton's hairline success since moving to Mercedes? Just look at how patchy his hair is at 5:27

[@kudason]

So Hamilton ended up at BAR/Honda after all? Dodged them as they were about fall, joined them as they were now Merc on the rise.

[@Dami_San]

Great story telling guys.

[@thegreatafrican3367]

Alonso furiously taking notes*

[@justinwalpole8956]

Mclaren where only offering a salary cut whilst Hamilton was performing better than ever in 2012

[@Gunar-ux5zy]

Well if they had Messer up Rosberg would be 5 time Champion so Its Not that Crazy… he would have won 2014/2015/2016 with ease 2017/2018 seb 2019 & 2020 mercedes again. so Rosberg, if he would stay after 2016 in this scenario…

[@1xRacer]

He would of won 09 and been merc after anyway

[@philwoodward5069]

If they hadn't signed Hamilton I still don't see why they wouldn't have won every championship between 2015 and 2019. Rosberg could have had as many championships as Vettel! As Frank Dernie noticed as a 12-year-old, the champion driver is generally the better of the two drivers who have the best car. As long as you've got at least one driver capable of winning the championship - which Mercedes already did even before they signed Hamilton - you're fine on the driver front. It's going to depend on the car.

[@slicklace]

Long may his success continue for as long as he chooses to stay in F1. We want to see good drivers stay in the sport and compete at a high level with the likes of Max and GR. I wonder what would’ve happened if Nico had stayed on would’ve been very interesting to watch.

[@genobadea2738]

With the new engine rules and regulations, and how well Mercedes executed them compared to the rest of the field, i truly believe Mercedes would have done just fine without Louis, they had Nico, I'm sure he would have stuck around had Louis not come to Mercedes. The question at this point is, would have Louis Hamilton been as successful as he is without Mercedes???

[@ax2643]

the lack of appreciation you show for a 7 time champion shows your lack of appreciation for motorsports.

[@genobadea2738]

@@ax2643 i really appreciate what Mercedes was able to do with their engines for the past years, I'm sure Hamilton had his share at it, but what I'm questioning is, Hamilton's ability to win without the Mercedes advantage. I'm just asking a legitimate question.

[@daarom3472]

wouldn't have mattered much really for Mercedes. Would've won 2014-2016 and 2019-2020 anyways. And that is assuming putting a tool next to Rosberg/Bottas. Could've also very well won 2017-2018 as Rosberg would've stayed on bad he been the team's main driver.

[@slug.racing]

You got it wrong.. signing Hamilton was the problem.. anyone could have won in that car ..

[@UnKnown-es7fk]

McLaren keep digging their own grave even until now, very typical move

[@Omega-ky8ur]

F1 2011-13 I always went to Merc and won them a title. So I did it first. No big deal