Lewis Hamilton reveals that Ross Brawn was the one who convinced him to join German Formula 1 team, Mercedes.
Initially, the Brit spoke with Niki Lauda on the matter, who could not convince him entirely. Later, Brawn jumped in to conclude the talks.
Hamilton secured his seventh world title at Turkish Grand Prix. Now, his record tally’s with Schumacher.
He started his career with McLaren. But he switched to Mercedes for 2013 season, in a shocking move at that time. However, shocked changed to surprise when both the team and driver crowned victories one after another.
Niki Lauda, Mercedes’ non-executive chairman and three-time F1 world champion, initiated the talks with Hamilton. Both built a strong bond which turned into a frienship for years that followed.
Hamilton revealed that he had doubts about future of the team. But Brawn managed to convince him.
“I’d spoken to Niki back home in Monaco, I was talking to him and he was talking to me about coming,” Hamilton said, reflecting on his decision to join Mercedes.
“I’m pretty sure he was the first one I had spoken to. He was like, ‘you’ve got to come to the team!’
“I wasn’t convinced necessarily at the beginning. I think the convincing stage which really made me look into it more was when Ross came around my mum’s house, and sat with me in the kitchen. We had tea, and he showed me what the plan is for the team.
“That was the real in-depth insight into what the team was planning, the changes they were trying to do. That was really the selling point.”
Meeting with Luada at 2012 Singapore Grand Prix was the key moment for his decision. Both had a good chat and they had the opportunity to understand each other.
“The important part of Singapore, I think Niki and I – perhaps maybe more so for him – realised that we had a lot in common,” Hamilton said.
“That really was the start of our friendship, because I remember him saying to me, ‘you’re a lot like me’. I think he realised that we had a lot more in common than perhaps he had previously thought, since we hadn’t really spoken before. It was all done on assumption and what people write.
