Peter Sauber, founder of the Sauber Formula 1 team, said that he was very close to signing a contract with Lewis Hamilton nearly 20 years ago.

At the time, the Briton was in the McLaren youth academy, but the Woking team, which regularly challenges for championship titles, planned to send Hamilton outside the peloton for a season to gain experience in Formula One.

According to the Swiss driver, his and McLaren’s vision of the situation did not align. While Peter Sauber was counting on long-term cooperation, the British team was only considering the option of hiring pilots on a temporary basis. Due to different terms and conditions, the deal ultimately did not happen.

“Almost no one knows that Lewis Hamilton planned to race for Sauber nearly 20 years ago.”

“He was part of the McLaren team and they wanted to send him to Hinwil for training. That’s why the McLaren delegation met with Lewis and his father Anthony, me and our lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn at Kloten Airport.”

“In the end the deal didn’t work out because McClaren only wanted to loan him for one season and we insisted on a two-year loan.”

As a result, Lewis Hamilton remained with McLaren and entered the title fight in his first season in Formula 1. The Briton lost the championship largely due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, but he immediately showed the top level. Lewis currently has 7 championships.

Former Ferrari engineer Javi Marcos is returning to Formula 1 with a new key role in the Cadillac project.

The Spaniard was previously working as Charles Leclerc’s race engineer at Ferrari, but was replaced by Brian Bozzi ahead of the 2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. After that, Marcos decided to leave the Italian team and join Cadillac.

Last year, Marcos worked in the American manufacturer’s WEC and IMSA programs and was also officially appointed technical director of Cadillac’s LMDh project.

However, it is now known that he will focus on Formula 1 again. According to sources, Marcos has been appointed chief racing engineer of the future Cadillac team, which will enter the championship in 2026.

Cadillac will join the peloton as its 11th Formula 1 team. The American team, which will use Ferrari power plants in the first seasons, will switch to its own engines in partnership with General Motors from 2028.

The team had previously confirmed that Carlo Pasetti and John Howard would serve as race engineers for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez respectively. Marcos will serve in a position above them and will coordinate the work of the engineering staff.

Former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher shared his views on the best drivers in the history of the championship, naming Max Verstappen and his brother Michael Schumacher as the two best drivers he has seen in F1.

According to the 50-year-old German, this special duo; It will be an ideal combination in terms of speed, stability and mental toughness.

Schumacher said: “My brother and Max Verstappen. It would be very interesting. They would get along well because they are both at the top level and at the same time very reasonable. I think it will be a healthy but tough fight. If we talk purely about skill, these are two of the best drivers I have seen in Formula 1.”

The former racer also highlighted the key characteristic he believes distinguishes Williams, Verstappen and Michael Schumacher from the rest: the ability to consistently be at their best in crucial moments.

“The ability to perform under pressure, always being faster than your teammate and getting the best out of the car and the team – that’s what sets them apart,” he added.

Both drivers have long been regarded as some of the best in Formula One history. Michael Schumacher won seven championships, five of which were with Ferrari. Verstappen now has four titles.