Like any other sport, F1 history is characterized by drivers making signings that not only broke the internet but also changed the fate of their teams instantly. In this article, we’ll discuss 6 driver signings, from up and coming f1 drivers to already established race men, that strengthened their team’s hold on fame and made F1 history:
6 Driver Signings That Revitalized Teams
These six driver signings made history for themselves, their teams, and car racing. Here are some of the most famous F1 drivers names in history:
1. Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes (2013)
Many questioned Lewis Hamilton when he left McLaren for Mercedes in 2013. Despite multiple attempts to renegotiate, Hamilton signed a three-year deal to race for Mercedes. He would move just in time to drive the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 W04, the best Mercedes car at that point.
Lewis Hamilton is arguably the Formula 1 best driver for Mercedes. Throughout his stay, Hamilton won 84 races for Mercedes and helped the team secure all eight of their constructor championships. He also bagged six F1 driver’s championships, ensuring his and Mercedes’ place in F1 history.
And now, the Lewis Hamilton move to Ferrari is set to change the fate of the franchise like it did for Mercedes. “This is huge for the sport… because changing after such a long time with one team is a significant thing,” Jenson Button stated.
2. Niki Lauda to Ferrari (1974)
Throughout the early 1970s, Ferrari had a hard time gaining success. This is until they met Niki Lauda, an Austrian motorsport executive and aviation entrepreneur, who was signed in 1974. Lauda’s expert driving won him the 1975 World Championship, bringing Ferrari’s 11-year drought to an end.
Barely a year later, Lauda would be involved in a near-fatal crash in Nürburgring, Germany. However, he returned six weeks later and proceeded to win two more Formula One Championships in 1977 and 1984. “I always knew about the risks I was taking. Every year, someone you knew was killed racing“, said the iconic driver.
3. Ayrton Senna to McLaren (1988)
Ayrton Senna is one of Formula One’s greatest players. His move to McLaren in 1988 set the scene for one of the iconic rivalries with teammate Alain Prost. Very quickly, Senna made a mark for himself and McLaren by winning the F1 World Championship in 1988, 1990, and 1991.
Senna’s aggressive driving style was soon associated with McLaren, elevating their performance. His career came to an end when he crashed into a concrete barrier while leading the 1994 San Marino Prix.
4. Michael Schumacher to Ferrari (1996)
When Michael Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, the team hadn’t won a driver’s title in 17 years. Ferrari was struggling, and so would Schumacher for the next three years. He would miss out on the title in the final race in 1997 and 1998, only to suffer a broken leg from a brake failure in the followers.
Finally, in 2000, Schumacher’s hard work paid off, and he won five F1 championships from 2000 to 2004. His success transformed Ferrari into a powerful force and shaped the team’s culture in the early 2000s.
5. Jacques Villeneuve to Williams (1996)
Since Williams signed Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian driver hit the ground running. He was signed for the 1996 F1 season and immediately won four Grand Prix races in the same year. In 1997, after famously colliding with Ferrari’s Micheal Schumacher, Villeneuve won the F1 World Driver’s Championship.
Throughout his stay, Villeneuve’s signing marked great success for his team. However, Villeneuve left the team after three years, becoming the last driver to win a title for Williams.
6. Fernando Alonso to Renault (2003)
While not among the Famous F1 drivers’ names, at the start of his career, Fernando Alonso quickly rose to the helm of the sport. Fernando Alonso started as a test driver in Renault in 2002. The next year, he was promoted to the race team, where he won the Hungarian Grand Prix and became the youngest driver to win. Throughout his career, many describe Alonso as a tenacious driver who can think and act in a split second.
Due to their fruitful relationship, Fernando Alonso has always been closely linked to Renault. He drove for the team from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2009.
The Final Lap
Throughout F1 history, we see that the right driver signing can be a catalyst for massive success. Whether it is up and coming f1 drivers with fresh talent or the Formula 1 best driver with years of experience, signing the right person can reshape a team and rewrite a sport’s history. As car racing continues to evolve, one thing remains certain: the right move can cause a team’s fortune to swerve in the right path.