Ex-Mercedes CEO Reveals Lewis Hamilton was Not Their Initial Target in 2013

Lewis Hamilton is currently doing wonders for Mercedes, but he very nearly did not drive for them. In an alternate universe, had Mercedes actually got their way, Nick Heidfeld would have been in that seat alongside Nico Rosberg. The astonishing revelation was made via former Mercedes CEO Nick Fry.

Fry revealed in his autobiography that the higher-ups wanted to play it safe with Heidfeld at the end of the 2012 season. The veteran driver had split from Renault mid-way through the previous season to become their reserve driver.

According to the Englishman, he initiated discussions with Hamilton’s manager Simon Fuller in mid-2011. However, he later divulged that senior staff had not fully warmed up to the idea of Lewis Hamilton driving for them.

“Initially I couldn’t get Mercedes on board with hiring Lewis,” he wrote in his book ‘Survive. Drive. Win.’.

“More than once we were sent back to come up with other ideas. For whatever reason, we were told to look at people like Nick Heidfeld again, who was super-keen to get the seat, and repeatedly text me with photos of himself, his family and his dog in a futile bid to pique my interest.”

Fry also disclosed that another serious option for Mercedes was Paul di Resta. Additionally, Jacques Villeneuve also offered his services. However, Mercedes did not take the bait, as he had fallen out with the team back in its British American Racing days.

The tide only turned in Hamilton’s favour when Formula One legend, Niki Lauda arrived. As the non-executive chairman, it provided the additional impetus to coax Lewis Hamilton to the team. Fry revealed that Lauda told him to just go for it. His exact words were, “go and do it and I will ask Mercedes for forgiveness later”.

Soon, Mercedes bit and Lewis Hamilton’s move to Mercedes was announced on September 28th.