Breaking: Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari following…

At the end of the season and John Elkann, chairman of the famous Italian brand, hopes the Briton can push the team back into title contention

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has made it clear Maranello won’t simply be a retirement home for Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton joins next season to start a new challenge in the twilight of his stellar Formula 1 career. But, as he will have already turned 40 by the time he makes his debut for the Italians, his stay will most likely not be a long-term one.

He moves to Ferrari hoping it can be the place where he finally wins a long-awaited eighth F1 title before retirement. But there is no guarantee he will even be involved in a championship challenge given the team’s record in recent times.

Their last constructors’ title came in 2008 – the same year Hamilton won his first drivers’ crown racing for McLaren. They have come close on plenty of occasions since but the silverware has dried up for F1’s most famous team.

Not that expectations levels among Ferrari bosses have dropped as a result. There is an expectation at boardroom level that the team wins and that will be the same when Hamilton pulls on red overalls for the first time.

Chairman Elkann certainly has high hopes for what the collaboration can bring and is banking on Hamilton’s skill and experience being an important factor. He told Corriere dello Sport: “This was the moment when he and Ferrari found each other. He wants to win the eighth title, Ferrari wants to win and with Lewis they are stronger.

“He doesn’t come to Ferrari to enjoy his retirement and it’s important to have motivated people around, who want to win. In Formula 1 there is real competition now, with four teams very close: Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes.

“It is important to always go to the maximum of your potential – those with more experience have more consistency, as demonstrated by Hamilton and also [ 43-year-old Fernando] Alonso himself. And consistency counts.”

And Elkann is hoping that Hamilton can be around for a few years yet, citing the examples of others who have stuck around for longer than many others in their fields often do. He added: “[Roger] Federer, [Simone] Bilestiano], [Cris Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi and [Olympic swimmer Gregorio] Paltrinieri.

“With dedication and sacrifice they are overcoming the physical limits due to age. It is also true that we are in a historical phase in which we live longer and also the careers of athletes are lengthening.”