The intense pressure of a 2026 season defined by new beginnings at Maranello cannot stop Lewis Hamilton from being the subject of the sport’s most shocking “what if” revelation.
Specifically, as the 41-year-old seven-time champion navigates a complex second year with Ferrari, legendary former team owner Peter Sauber has broken decades of silence to reveal that Hamilton nearly started his career in the white and blue of Sauber.
This rare and emotional look back at a secret meeting at Zurich’s Kloten Airport highlights a significant moment where a single contract clause changed the course of Formula 1 history, proving that the greatest dynasty in racing nearly never happened.
The Secret Summit at Kloten Airport
According to Peter Sauber, the meeting took place roughly 20 years ago, as McLaren was searching for a way to give their prodigious young star his “Formula 1 apprenticeship” without the immediate pressure of a front-running seat.
The delegation was a powerhouse of F1 history: Peter Sauber and his in-house lawyer Monisha Kaltenborn met with Lewis, his father Anthony Hamilton, and a high-level team from McLaren. The plan was simple: Hamilton would debut for the Swiss-based team, gaining valuable mileage before returning to Woking as a polished veteran.
“Hardly anyone knows that around 20 years ago, Lewis Hamilton almost drove for us,” Sauber told the Swiss-German outlet Blick in early January 2026. “They wanted to send him to Hinwil for his Formula 1 training.”
The One-Year vs. Two-Year Standoff
The deal, which would have seen Hamilton bypass his legendary 2007 McLaren debut alongside Fernando Alonso, fell through for a reason that seems almost trivial in hindsight. McLaren, protective of their investment, insisted on a one-year loan to ensure Lewis was back in their car by 2008.
Sauber, however, was firm in his own philosophy. Having nurtured talents like Kimi Räikkönen and Felipe Massa, he knew the value of continuity.
- Sauber’s Stance: Insisted on a minimum two-year commitment to justify the resources spent on a rookie.
- McLaren’s Stance: Refused to let their star pupil out of their sight for more than one season.
Neither side blinked, the papers remained unsigned, and the deal collapsed. Consequently, Hamilton stayed at McLaren, narrowly missed the title in his rookie year, and won his first world championship in 2008—the very year he would have still been at Sauber had Peter Sauber gotten his way.
The “What If” Career Path: Hamilton at Sauber
2025 Retrospective: The Ferrari Struggle
This revelation comes at a particularly poignant time for Hamilton. His move to Ferrari for the 2025 season—hailed as the “marriage of the century”—proved to be one of the most difficult chapters of his career.
Hamilton ended the 2025 campaign with a career-low sixth place in the Drivers’ Standings, marking the first time in his 19-year career that he failed to secure a Sunday podium finish across an entire season. His only highlight was a victory in the China Sprint back in March 2025, while he spent the rest of the year battling an unpredictable SF-25 and struggling to match the qualifying pace of his younger teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Conclusion: A Legacy Defined by One Decision
As Lewis Hamilton enters his second season with Ferrari in 2026, the Sauber bombshell adds a layer of irony to his journey. The man who once nearly debuted for a midfield Swiss team to gain “experience” is now the elder statesman of the grid, desperately searching for one last spark of magic in Maranello.
Peter Sauber’s story is a reminder that in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, the smallest negotiation point can create or destroy a legend. Had Sauber accepted a one-year loan, or had McLaren granted two, the history books would look entirely different. But as it stands, that failed airport meeting ensured that Lewis Hamilton stayed on the path to becoming the most successful driver the sport has ever seen.