8 F1 driver moves that never were

The idea of Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari was for many years a seemingly fanciful prospect – until it actually happened, with the long-speculated link-up finally taking effect this year as the seven-time World Champion embarks on a new chapter away from Mercedes.

There are other much-hyped driver moves, however, that never came to be, despite some coming incredibly close to happening.

We’ve been taking a look back at just a few of these switches that never occurred, from the big names that missed out on joining the Scuderia through to the surprise candidates who nearly partnered with the Silver Arrows…

After years of speculation, Hamilton's move to Ferrari came as a surprise when it actually happened

Mark Webber to Ferrari

Mark Webber was a part of the Red Bull team for many years, having raced for the squad from 2007 through to the final year of his F1 career in 2013. But, had things been different, the Australian could potentially have spent that 2013 season at Ferrari instead.

According to Webber’s 2015 autobiography Aussie Grit, advanced talks had taken place with the Scuderia to bring him to the squad as Fernando Alonso’s team mate, a move that Webber says had the backing of his then-manager Flavio Briatore, former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali and Alonso himself.

However, Webber had been pushing for a two-year contract and was not interested in the one-year deal with an option that he claims was being offered by the Italian team. Amidst all of this, Red Bull were also talking to other drivers – including Lewis Hamilton, according to Webber.

But it was soon agreed that Webber would remain with the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 2013, a year in which his infamous Multi 21 incident with team mate Sebastian Vettel took place before the Australian driver opted to retire at the end of the season.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 24: Second placed Mark Webber (R) of Australia and Infiniti Red Bull — Webber and Alonso could potentially have become team mates at Ferrari in 2013

Michael Schumacher to McLaren

One very famous driver move to Ferrari that did happen was the arrival of reigning World Champion Michael Schumacher from Benetton in 1996. But in an alternate universe, Schumacher could have potentially ended up at McLaren instead.

Schumacher very quickly made a big impression during his F1 debut with Jordan in 1991, leading to him being snapped up by Benetton after just one race. Further success followed for the German, whose first wins came in 1992 and 1993 – and this caught the eye of others on the grid, including McLaren boss Ron Dennis.

BEYOND THE GRID: Inside Michael Schumacher’s final, and most dominant, World Championship

Dennis memorably approached Schumacher at a fashion show in 1993 where he suggested that the rising star talked to him privately. A switch never happened, though, with Schumacher remaining at Benetton into 1994 and 1995 where he clinched back-to-back titles.

This was seemingly not the only possible opportunity for Schumacher to join McLaren. Dennis went on to claim that a secret meeting took place between them when the World Champion was racing for Ferrari, but that the deal ultimately did not come off. “That was disappointing. I think Mika [Hakkinen] and Michael would have been a truly fabulous driver line-up,” said Dennis.

15 Jul 2001: 2nd placed Michael Schuamcher of Ferrari and Germany chats to race winner Mika — Schumacher and Hakkinen were great rivals, but the pair never became team mates during their time in F1

Jean Alesi to Williams

After impressing during his first two seasons in the sport with Tyrrell in 1989 and 1990, Jean Alesi found himself on the radar of other teams – including Willams, who presented an option for Alesi to sign for the 1991 season.

However, delays followed when it came to the team announcing the move, with Frank Williams seemingly also pursuing Ayrton Senna (and subsequently Nigel Mansell, who had claimed that he would retire from the sport at the end of the 1990 season after a tough spell at Ferrari).

LIGHTS TO FLAG: Jean Alesi on his epic battles with Senna, winning for Ferrari and switching from racing to wine making

This all caused Alesi to lose faith in Williams and, after interest from other teams, the Frenchman decided to join Ferrari in 1991, with the Scuderia making a payment to the Grove-based outfit for their troubles.

While Alesi became a much-loved figure by the Tifosi during his five years with the Italian team, the partnership only resulted in one win at the 1995 Canadian Grand Prix. Williams, meanwhile, entered into one of their most dominant phases, with Mansell and Alain Prost taking World Championships for the team in 1992 and 1993 respectively.

Canada 1995 - Jean Alesi wins

Nico Hulkenberg/Nick Heidfeld to Mercedes

Nico Hulkenberg currently holds the statistic of the most Grands Prix without achieving a podium – but the German was once being considered by a team where he not only could have stood on the rostrum but may even have found himself in championship contention.

After making his debut for Williams in 2010 – a season in which he claimed his maiden pole position – Hulkenberg spent a year on the sidelines before joining Force India in 2012. And had Lewis Hamilton not decided to join Mercedes in 2013, the Hulk was second choice according to the team’s former Team Principal Ross Brawn.

“I almost signed him years ago, when I was in charge at Mercedes,” Brawn said in 2020 during Hulkenberg’s super sub phase. “If Lewis hadn’t joined Mercedes when he did, Nico was our next choice. I’ve always respected Nico enormously as a driver. He’s a very strong driver who should be in Formula 1.”

Another candidate who was apparently in the frame at that time was Nick Heidfeld, according to former Mercedes CEO Nick Fry. The German had enjoyed an extensive career in the sport from 2000 to 2011 but a comeback with the Silver Arrows never happened, with Heidfeld instead going on to compete in Formula E during the years that followed.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 06: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg of — Hulkenberg was apparently second choice when Mercedes wanted to sign Hamilton for the 2013 season

Stirling Moss to Ferrari

The early days of Stirling Moss’ racing career brought him to the attention of many in the world of motorsport – including Enzo Ferrari, who offered the Briton the chance to race for his team in the non-championship Bari Grand Prix in 1951 before joining the squad full-time in 1952.

Moss accepted the offer and made the journey by plane and train to Bari with his father. But when the pair arrived at the paddock for the event, they were informed that Ferrari had instead decided to run the veteran Piero Taruffi in the car that Moss had expected to get behind the wheel of.

Having not been informed of this beforehand, Moss was furious and left vowing never to drive for Enzo Ferrari. It was a sentiment he stood by, with his F1 career seeing him race for a number of teams – including Maserati, Mercedes and Lotus – but never the Scuderia.

While Moss did go on to drive Ferraris in sportcars, they were ran by private entrants rather than Mr Ferrari himself. But after some impressive performances by the British driver in the 1961 season, Enzo Ferrari reached out about providing one of his cars for Moss to race in 1962.

A deal was agreed – but when Moss suffered a serious crash in his Lotus during the Glover Trophy at Goodwood in April 1962 that left him in a coma for a month, the Briton ultimately decided to retire from racing, meaning that his agreement with Mr Ferrari never came to fruition.

Top 10: Moments of Stirling Moss Brilliance

Fernando Alonso to Red Bull

In an F1 career that has spanned over 400 Grands Prix so far, Fernando Alonso has won races for the likes of Renault, McLaren and Ferrari. A leading team not on that list, however, is Red Bull – but had things turned out differently, the Spaniard could have potentially joined the Milton Keynes-based outfit several years ago.

After a tension-filled campaign alongside rookie team mate Lewis Hamilton saw Alonso leave McLaren at the end of 2007, the two-time World Champion came close to partnering with Red Bull for the following season.

While he instead returned to Renault, Alonso says that further talks took place with Red Bull over the possibility of signing for 2009. The 43-year-old told F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast: “2008 was the closest [I came to joining Red Bull]. I remember perfectly, we were in a car park at Spa airport, the little airport on top of the hill.

“We were in that car park, sitting in the back seats, both of us at night, talking about the possibility. I was very close to Ferrari. If it was not [happening] in 2009, [it] would be for sure in 2010. We went into that road and they took Sebastian [Vettel, who] was in BMW at that time, doing some Fridays and some test driving in BMW.”

That partnership between Vettel and Red Bull proved hugely successful, yielding four consecutive championships, while Alonso failed to achieve title success with Ferrari. But the Spanish driver does not dwell on this, stating: “I didn't think too much about that. Never. Not those years and not even now. I never regret anything.”

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 20: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Ferrari smiles with — Alonso has no regrets about not joining Red Bull, despite the success experienced at the team by Vettel

Robert Kubica to Ferrari

Speaking of Alonso’s move to Ferrari, his five-year stint with the team saw him race alongside Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. However, as well as the aforementioned possibility of signing Mark Webber, the Scuderia could also have taken on Robert Kubica as Alonso’s team mate had fate not intervened.

Kubica had impressed many since his arrival on the grid with BMW in 2006, with the Pole going on to score a maiden victory at the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix. When BMW withdrew from the sport at the end of 2009, he then made the switch to Renault to replace the Ferrari-bound Alonso.

ALTERNATIVE HISTORIES: What if Robert Kubica hadn’t gone rallying in 2011?

Later on that year, Kubica signed a pre-contract to follow his friend Alonso to the Scuderia in 2012. But the Polish driver’s promising F1 career was suddenly snatched away when, in February 2011, he suffered a serious crash whilst participating in the Ronde di Andora rally in Spain.

An Armco barrier had penetrated the cockpit and partially severed Kubica’s right forearm, with the operation to extricate the driver from the car taking rescuers over an hour. Given the severity of his injuries – which also included fractures to his shoulder and leg – Kubica was forced to sit out the 2011 season.

While his recovery continued, the lasting impact of Kubica’s accident meant that his planned move to Ferrari never happened. The Pole did eventually make a remarkable comeback to the sport in 2019 at the wheel of a Williams, before deciding to leave the team at the end of the season.

ROBERT KUBICA: His roller coaster F1 journey

Oscar Piastri to Alpine

Perhaps one of the most infamous moves that never was in recent years centred around the contract saga over Oscar Piastri’s services for 2023, with the Australian finding himself in a tug of war between Alpine and McLaren.

Off the back of his Formula 2 title in 2021, Piastri became a reserve driver for Alpine – having been a part of the team’s academy programme – in 2022. And when it was announced on August 1 that Fernando Alonso would leave the squad to join Aston Martin in 2023, the Enstone-based outfit soon released a statement announcing that Piastri would replace the Spaniard on the race team.

But within a matter of hours, Piastri himself took to X (formerly Twitter) to state that the press release had been put out without his agreement and that he would not be driving for Alpine in 2023. Rumours subsequently emerged that the Australian was instead set to replace the departing Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren.

The dispute between the two teams went to the Contract Recognition Board at the end of August 2022 and, just a few days later, the CRB ruled that Piastri’s contract with McLaren was the one that was valid for the 2023 season. The ruling also revealed that the youngster had signed his contract with the papaya outfit on July 4, several weeks before Alpine’s announcement.

In the time since, Alpine’s former Team Principal Otmar Szafnauer – who departed the team during the 2023 season but had been in charge during the Piastri contract saga – has stated that he was not responsible for the squad losing out on the Australian, who has gone on to become a race winner at McLaren.