Ferrari Goes Against Lewis Hamilton's Wishes After Sad Confirmation
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Ferrari F1 driver Lewis Hamilton was dealt a massive blow after the Italian car manufacturer shut down the possibility of manual transmissions being used in their future road cars.
While the SF-25 has paddles and a clutch behind the steering wheel of the race car, new Ferrari road cars are only available with an automatic transmission.
The last Ferrari that came out with a manual transmission was the 2012 California model.
Ferrari's Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, Enrico Galliera, recently stated that if someone wants a manual Ferrari, they should opt for a classic car.
Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in the paddock ahead of the third practice session for the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 5, 2025.
Ferrari's British driver Lewis Hamilton in the paddock ahead of the third practice session for the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 5, 2025.
Photo by"You missed it! The manual gearbox, we already have it, in many of our classic cars. You can go and drive our fantastic manual gearboxes on our fantastic events for our classic cars," Galliera said, according to EVO.
"Whoever wants to have this kind of classic experience, they can buy and restore our fantastic classics and come to our events. We have it, we push our clients to discover the beauty of driving a classic car.
"We offer Corsa Pilotti on classic cars because many people don't know how to use the manual cars. It's an important experience that we can offer on our classic cars for the time being."
When Hamilton joined Ferrari during the offseason, he told the media that he wanted to design a modern Ferrari F40, a car that he posed in front of during his Ferrari introduction.
He had a specific request for what the car needed:
"Baseline of an F40, with the actual stick shift. That's what I'm gonna work on for the next few years," Hamilton said.
It is possible that Ferrari allows Hamilton to have a custom, one-of-one model built just for him with the manual transmission, but the seven-time World Champion won't be able to buy one anytime soon.
Hamilton made the massive move from Mercedes to Ferrari over the offseason when he shocked the Formula 1 world and joined the most storied team on the grid.
He spent several seasons at Mercedes full of winning and dominance, but as the team prepared for their future, Hamilton saw an opportunity to leave the team to join the famous Scuderia.
His start to life at Ferrari hasn't netted a podium Grand Prix finish yet, but Hamilton remains committed and driven to win his eighth world title at the legendary team.
More F1 news: How Lewis Hamilton Made the F1 Movie Production More Expensive
For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Christian Horner's Comments on Ferrari Resurface After Red Bull F1 Exit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Christian Horner's thoughts about the Ferrari F1 team have resurfaced after his abrupt exit from Red Bull Racing on Wednesday. The Milton Keynes-based team announced it was parting ways with Horner with immediate effect. Horner served Red Bull for 20 years, playing a big role in achieving six constructors' championships and eight drivers' championships. Red Bull showcased its most recent dominance under his leadership in the current ground effect era that began in 2022. The following year, in 2023, saw the outfit secure 21 Grand Prix victories out of a 22-race calendar. It was in the same year that Horner was asked about a potential move to Ferrari. The then-Red Bull boss stated that Ferrari must prioritize becoming a winning team, and admitted that heading it was a high-pressure job. He said: "I think the biggest problem for Ferrari is that it's a national team. It needs to get back to being a race team. Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner arrive in the paddock together during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on... Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur and Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner arrive in the paddock together during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. More"It's an Italian institution and there's probably too many people at the top end. Everybody has an input and has a say. "From the outside looking in, one of our strengths is that we move quickly, we make decisions and we stick to them. And if we make the wrong decision, we change the decision. "I think, for Ferrari, the newspapers have such an influence on what happens there. So it's a lot of pressure being at Ferrari." Rumors about Horner joining Ferrari swirled again in the paddock during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend a few weeks ago. F1 journalist Joe Saward recalled Ferrari chairman John Elkann's interest in Horner back in 2022 and revealed whether the Briton would still be interested in leading the red team. He wrote: "This story was true about three years ago when Ferrari chairman John Elkann jetted over the England and dropped in to see Christian and asked him if he would like to move to Maranello. Horner said 'Thanks for the offer' and Elkann rang his pilots and told them to spool up the jets. "Horner's response is unlikely to change if Ferrari does come calling again, but he said that they had not. For many in F1 joining Ferrari is considered a career move akin to throwing oneself on a bonfire (with a flameproof wallet) because the team seems to be unfixable. It is nearly a generation since Ferrari won its last Formula 1 title. "It is probably inevitable that Vasseur's future is beginning to be questioned. He has been there for a couple of seasons and things have not gone particularly well." While these were Saward's thoughts about Horner before his Red Bull ousting, it remains to be seen if Horner would change his mind about Ferrari after Red Bull parted ways with him.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Christian Horner Breaks Silence On Social Media After Red Bull Sacking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Former Red Bull Racing CEO and team principal Christian Horner has opened up after his sudden exit. Horner served the team for 20 years from 2005 but was let go with immediate effect on Wednesday. News about Horner's Red Bull departure sent shockwaves across the F1 community, especially given the team's current struggles, and as Red Bull develops its power unit for the new era beginning in 2026 under the Red Bull Powertrains banner. Horner has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies, while Racing Bulls sporting director Alan Permane was promoted to the role of team principal. Horner was said to have reached the Red Bull factory at Milton Keynes yesterday following his exit announcement, where he broke down while addressing his team. Much later, he posted a statement on Instagram, revealing that he was proud of what the team had achieved under his leadership. He wrote: "After an incredible journey of twenty years together, it is with a heavy heart that today I say goodbye to the Team I have absolutely loved. Every one of you, the amazing people at the factory, have been the heart and soul of everything that we have achieved. Win and lose, every step of the way, we have stood by each other as one and I will never forget that. It's been a privilege being part of and leading this epic Team and I am so proud of our collective accomplishments and you all. Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing waves in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing waves in the Paddock prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria."Thanks to the amazing partners and fans who enabled us to go racing. Your support has helped grow the team from its humble beginnings to an F1 powerhouse that laid claim to 6 Constructors Championships and 8 Drivers Championships. "Equally, thank you to our rivals, with whom there would be no racing at all. You've pushed us, challenged us, and enabled us to achieve accolades we never dreamed possible. The competition has made every victory sweeter and every setback an opportunity to develop and grow. "Formula 1 is a sport built on relentless ambition, passion, and respect. The rivalries have been fierce, but the mutual drive to innovate and raise the bar is what has made this journey so special. "It's been an honour to be part of this incredible era of motorsport. I leave with immense pride in what we've achieved and also with what's in the pipeline for 2026 - and huge respect for everyone who's made F1 the pinnacle it is today. Thank You." Related: Christian Horner Closed Red Bull Chapter With Emotional Goodbye To Team
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Christian Horner fired: What led to Red Bull Formula 1 team principal's exit
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Christian Horner is out as the CEO team principal for the Oracle Red Bull Formula 1 team, ending a 20-year run that featured eight drivers' titles and six constructors titles on the international racing circuit. Red Bull announced the move Wednesday, firing Horner abruptly and appointing Laurent Mekies as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing. Mekies had been serving as the team principal of Red Bull's F1 sister team, the Racing Bulls, this season. Advertisement The decision comes at a fraught time for the Red Bull F1 team after Horner and four-time defending Formula 1 drivers' champion Max Verstappen again fielded questions last week concerning Verstappen's future. NEW SURVEY: Formula 1's popularity rising in US, shows series growing presence Verstappen, who currently sits in third place in the drivers' standings behind Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of McLaren, is being pursued by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff ahead of the 2026 season. Horner called the speculation about Verstappen "a lot of noise," and Verstappen declined to comment on the situation. Verstappen's contract with Red Bull runs through 2028 but it includes an exit clause after this season if Red Bull were to be below third place in the Formula 1 constructors' standings heading into the circuit's summer break, according to ESPN. Red Bull currently sits in fourth place in the constructors' title race, trailing McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes with just two races left until the summer break. Advertisement Horner, 51, had been the team principal of Red Bull racing since it began fielding a Formula 1 team in 2005. He is married to Geri Halliwell from The Spice Girls, but became a celebrity figure in his own right through Netflix's "Drive to Survive" F1 docuseries in recent years. Horner's rivalry with Wolff and Mercedes was an ongoing focus of the show. Over the past 18 months, Red Bull has also lost car design expert Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber Motorsport. Though Verstappen won the drivers' championship for the fourth year in a row in 2024, Red Bull finished in third place behind McLaren and Ferrari. Horner's contract with Red Bull was not set to expire until 2030, according to Reuters. "We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years," Red Bull CEO of corporate projects and investments Oliver Mintzlaff said in a statement. "With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1. Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Christian Horner fired: What led to Red Bull F1 principal's exit
