The Formula 1 world is in a frenzy after Lewis Hamilton made an unexpected statement that has left Mercedes fans and the British media stunned. As speculation continues to swirl around his highly anticipated move to Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has reportedly expressed admiration for the handling and performance of Ferrari’s F1 cars, going as far as to suggest that they feel much better than his current Mercedes.
According to emerging reports, Hamilton has praised the behavior of Ferrari’s SF-23 and SF-24, describing them as delivering a “good feeling” on track. While it remains unclear whether he was speaking from firsthand experience or based on insights from Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, his comments have undoubtedly added fuel to the fire regarding his future with the Scuderia.
For a driver who has spent over a decade with Mercedes, winning six of his seven world championships with the Silver Arrows, this revelation has come as a major shock. The British media, known for its deep-rooted support of Hamilton’s Mercedes legacy, is now questioning what this means for the team’s future and whether Hamilton’s commitment to Mercedes has already begun to wane before his departure.
Mercedes, on the other hand, has been struggling in the new ground-effect era of Formula 1. Since the introduction of the 2022 regulations, the team has failed to recapture the dominance it once enjoyed during Hamilton’s peak years. With Red Bull leading the charge and teams like Ferrari and McLaren making significant strides, Mercedes has been left playing catch-up. Hamilton’s recent comments may hint at underlying frustrations with the W15’s performance and the overall direction of the team.
While Hamilton has remained diplomatic about his impending switch to Ferrari, his remarks about the Prancing Horse’s superior car behavior indicate that he is already looking ahead to 2025. If these statements are any indication, he could be preparing to step into what he believes will be a more competitive and well-rounded package than what Mercedes has been able to offer in recent years.
The big question now is how Mercedes will react. With George Russell stepping up as the team’s future leader and Lewis Hamilton set to leave at the end of the 2024 season, team principal Toto Wolff and the entire Mercedes engineering staff will likely be under immense pressure to prove that their car can still compete at the highest level. Hamilton’s comments may serve as extra motivation for the Silver Arrows to close the gap to Ferrari and Red Bull before he leaves.
On the Ferrari side, the enthusiasm surrounding Hamilton’s arrival is growing. With Ferrari’s recent resurgence in form and the ongoing development of their 2025 and 2026 cars, having Hamilton onboard could be the final piece of the puzzle in their quest to return to championship-winning ways. His experience, technical knowledge, and racecraft will undoubtedly be a significant asset to the Maranello-based squad.
What remains to be seen is whether Mercedes can respond effectively to these comments or if Hamilton’s words will mark the beginning of the end of their once-unbreakable partnership. Either way, this unexpected statement has only added more intrigue to an already thrilling season of Formula 1. As the paddock digests these revelations, all eyes will be on how Mercedes and Ferrari react in the coming months.
Formula 1 is known for its drama both on and off the track, and with Hamilton’s latest remarks shaking the foundations of his long-standing relationship with Mercedes, the story is far from over. The 2024 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and dramatic campaigns in recent memory, with fans eagerly waiting to see how this saga unfolds.
