Credit: Robert Kubica at the 2010 Malaysian GP, photo by Morio (CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL 1.2)
Credit: Robert Kubica at the 2010 Malaysian GP, photo by Morio (CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL 1.2) – Cropped from Wikimedia Commons
Normally it is a dream for everyone to drive for Ferrari, but even the greatest – wanted to join this team.
Few things in F1 carry the same weight as driving for Ferrari, the red car, the history, the pressure, it is a dream that both inspires and haunts many of the sport’s greatest talents.
Over the years, several world-class driver came close to sign with Scuderia Ferrari, here are some of the most fascinating ‘WHAT IF’ stories in Ferrari history, the top drivers who almost wore red.
Jenson Button – Champion of 2009
The British driver came closer to joining Ferrari than most people realize, at the end of 2012, as the driver market began to shift, Button was in advanced discussions with Ferrari about potential 2013 seat.
Reports suggested that the negotiations reached such a serious stage that legal drafts of the contract were reportedly being prepared.
But then unexpectedly, it fell apart, communication from Maranello suddenly went quiet, Jenson Buetton later admitted he never heard back from the team again.
However, according to the Italian press; Button still describes Ferrari as the one door he wishes had opened.
Robert Kubica – The star in rise!
Robert Kubica’s story remains one of the most heartbreaking in F1 history, the Polish driver had confirmed in 2018, that he had pre-contract to race for Ferrari in 2012, partnering Fernando Alonso.
The plan was already in motion, Kubica’s talent was not admired only by Ferrari, but from every team, even Alonso once said that Kubica is the best of our generation.
But in February 2011, while competing in a rally in Italy, Kubica suffered a devastating crash that left him with multiple fractures and serious arm injuries.
The Ferrari contract never became official, and his dream vanished forever.
Nico Rosberg – The champion who retired after his best season
Ferrari was in talks with Nico Rosberg in 2016, before he signed the deal with Mercedes in July 2016.
He confirmed years later that he was in serious conversations with the Scuderia at one point during his career, yet he never made the move.
According to reports, Nico Rosberg visited Marranello to explore his options outside Mercedes, but after winning his first F1 championship, he retired from F1.
But saying no to Ferrari, some reports suggests that he has often admitted that saying no to Ferrari was one of the hardest choices of his career.
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Nico Hülkenberg – Williams pole sitter of 2009
Nico Hulkenberg is another name in the long list of almost-Ferrari drivers.
Few people know just how close he came, for the 2014 season, Hulkenberg was in advanced talks with Ferrari management.
But the deal never came, without warning, the talks came to an end, the German left stunned, having been on the brink of fulfilling a longlife dream.
Despite that bitter moment, Hulkenberg has rarely shown resentment, he has said he prefers to focus on the present than the ‘what ifs’.
Ayrton Senna – The Ultimate “What If”
Among all drivers linked with Ferrari, none carry the same emotional weight as Ayrton Senna.
For Ayrton Senna, Ferrari was more than a team, it was a symbol. And he spent most of his career of dreaming to race for the Italian team.
In 1991, Ayrton Senna was close to join Scuderia Ferrari, but the team had to stop the deal to avoid conflict with Alain Prost, who was already with the team and had a bitter rivalry with Ayrton Senna.
At the end of 1993, Ayrton Senna was looking for alternatives for 1994, Senna met with Jean Todt to discuss about the deal, but Todt decided to honor existing contracts with Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger.
Todt told Senna that Ferrari could only offer him a seat in 1995, that year never came for the Brazilian.
The missed chances
Ferrari always had great drivers, if not the best on the grid but its history is filled with triumphs, heartbreaks and what might have been.
From Button’s almost signed contract to Kubica’s tragedy and Senna’s unfulfilled dream, these stories remind us that even the most iconic team in motorsport has its untold chapters.
