Hamilton's 'Sliding Doors' moment cost him Ferrari drive

Stefano Domenicali has confirmed he once considered signing Lewis Hamilton at a time when the current F1 CEO was team principal at Ferrari.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports Italia, Hamilton mused as to why a switch to the Scuderia had never materialised during his career.

"It's definitely going to be crazy to think that I never drove for Ferrari," said the seven-time F1 champion.

"Of course, I look at the colour and the red, it's just... it's still the red. I have a couple of Ferraris at home, so I do get to drive a Ferrari, just not the one.

"For everyone that's a dream position to be in. It was just never really fully on the cards for me.

"I'll never know fully exactly why, but I wish them all the best and I'm going to spend the next bit of my time stopping them from winning the championship."

Domenicali was in charge at Ferrari from 2008 to 2014 during which time Hamilton agreed a new contract with McLaren before moving to Mercedes at the end of 2012.

Domenicali has stated Hamilton made his choices, drawing on the movie 'Sliding Doors' which alternates between storylines relating to whether the main character caught a train or not.

Asked whether he had considered signing Hamilton for Ferrari during his period in charge, speaking to Sky Sports, Domenicali revealed: “To be honest, yes.

“This is true, we discussed that. It's the right question to pose but I think the answer that Lewis was able to give was the right one.

"Today I think that period has passed away. There are moments in life...there is a movie that is very important to remember ‘Sliding Doors’.

“There are moments where if you do get into an elevator or you stay on another floor. That was the situation with Lewis at that specific time of his life.

“But he cannot blame his choice, at least, because he has had an incredible career.”

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