Lewis Hamilton likens chaotic F1 'silly season' to NFL ahead of 2023 title bid

05 February 2023 , 15:57

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Lewis Hamilton likens chaotic F1 'silly season' to NFL ahead of 2023 title bid

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has compared the sport's so-called 'silly season' to the NFL, given the number of people moving between teams.

While there were plenty of driver moves ahead of the new season, sparked by Sebastian Vettel's retirement, Hamilton says a number of behind-the-scenes personnel also regularly move between teams.

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff recently claimed Red Bull had approached 100 of their employees and got 15 of them, while Aston Martin poached Dan Fallows from Red Bull to become their new technical director and Ferrari said they have hired 30 new engineers from other teams in recent years.

And Hamilton has compared the moves to NFL trades, saying: "In my team there are 2,000 people. It is actually over 2,000 people now to build two cars.

"They're all switching out, it's a bit like in the NFL for example. I was just at the Denver Broncos game in LA, just learning more and more about the NFL, just how players are switched out so often through a season.

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"It's very, very similar for us with engineers and designers. They're not being traded as such, but they're being chased by other teams, you know, the other team wants our aerodynamicist, or our tyre guy."

Hamilton became a co-owner of the Broncos in August, stating that he "jumped" at the chance to invest in the team. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in October, Hamilton said: "Honestly, it's such an honour and such an amazing opportunity.

Lewis Hamilton has compared F1 'silly season' to the NFL (PETRONAS Motorsports/YouTube)

"I remember when I was like nine years old, I used to live on an American air base for a short period of time in the UK, and that was the first time I became aware of it [NFL], and I used to play [video game] Madden.

"I've been to many Super Bowls. I've been to the first game in the UK; I'm going to miss the one this weekend unfortunately because I'm racing in Mexico. Mellody Hobson called me and said she had this amazing opportunity and would I like to a part of it, and I jumped at it.

"There's a real lack of black ownership [in the NFL], and I'm pushing for diversity constantly. There's a lot of work to do and I'm really proud to be part of it."

Matthew Cooper