Sky Sports reporting that Mercedes Staff have been told that Hamilton will leave at the end of the 2024 Season. Shame in a way, shit would hilariously hit the fan if he joined Ferrari now
I think he should go now - if it's agreed. Can't really see him being too committed to Mercedes with that in the back of his mind.
He will be highly committed if the car is good this season.
Just thinking off the top of my head with how the driver market could play out (wanted to have some fun)
Ferrari - Hamilton and Leclerc Merc- Russell and Albon Red Bull - Verstappen and Danny Ric Alpine - Gasly and Ocon (Doohan if the relationship deteriorates) McLaren - Norris and Piastri VCARB - Tsunoda and Lawson Sauber - Bottas and Sainz Aston - Alonso and Drugovich Williams - Zhou and Antonelli Haas - Hulkenberg and Bearman.
If Hamilton is going to Ferrari, I suspect it either means
1) they have convinced him they can get their car and strategy competitive with Red Bull and give him his best shot of an 8th title (to be fair, their car probably has the most raw pace after RB as demonstrated by some of their quali performances but they have struggled to maximise that in race trim). 2) he resigned himself that no one will be catching RB soon so he might as well go and see out his career at the most historic and prestigious team.
Either way, it's not really a vote of confidence from him that Merc are going to be challenging for a championship anytime soon. And hints at another potential one-sided season in 2024. I want Hamilton to get another fair shot beating Verstappen but if Merc can't then hopefully someone other than Merc closes the gap.
Realistically, as he gets older he is going to lose a bit of speed and Verstappen is getting faster, if anything. Peak Hamilton vs peak Verstappen would be a hell of a fight, but I think now Verstappen wins in closely matched machinery. Hamilton might need to find a team that can give him an outright faster car than Red Bull to get that 8th title now.
I think it offers a fascinating dynamic for some of the fans of the sport who are Ferrari fans and (understandably) historically not really fans of Hamilton.
It’s going to be interesting to see thousands of Ferrari followers at Monza going fanatical as Lewis pulls out the garage. Not to mention Silverstone being a sea of Ferrari red
No way Mick Schumacher gets a seat at a top team. He’s nowhere near the standard required.
Never really had the opportunity in the shit show that was haas did he ? Deserves another opportunity in the midfield for sure. Could push on from there.
No way Mick Schumacher gets a seat at a top team. He’s nowhere near the standard required.
That Merc seat is going to be the toughest to replace, could see Ocon - Schumacher - Albon all in there... Think whoever it will be, is a stopgap for Antonelli though, hence why I went for Mick, Id be shocked if I was right
This is monumental in Italy. Ferrari are their first love. The highest profile driver in the sport in their team is gonna be like nothing we have seen for a long time.
This is monumental in Italy. Ferrari are their first love. The highest profile driver in the sport in their team is gonna be like nothing we have seen for a long time.
The Sky Italy guy they had on compared it to when Juve signed Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gutted for Sainz. Doesn't deserve that as you are entering a new season.
The "team" game is going to be fun to watch this season at both Ferrari and Mercedes - We saw last season how there were moments between both sets of team mates
Comments
Ferrari - Hamilton and Leclerc
Merc- Russell and Albon
Red Bull - Verstappen and Danny Ric
Alpine - Gasly and Ocon (Doohan if the relationship deteriorates)
McLaren - Norris and Piastri
VCARB - Tsunoda and Lawson
Sauber - Bottas and Sainz
Aston - Alonso and Drugovich
Williams - Zhou and Antonelli
Haas - Hulkenberg and Bearman.
If Hamilton is going to Ferrari, I suspect it either means
1) they have convinced him they can get their car and strategy competitive with Red Bull and give him his best shot of an 8th title (to be fair, their car probably has the most raw pace after RB as demonstrated by some of their quali performances but they have struggled to maximise that in race trim).
2) he resigned himself that no one will be catching RB soon so he might as well go and see out his career at the most historic and prestigious team.
Either way, it's not really a vote of confidence from him that Merc are going to be challenging for a championship anytime soon. And hints at another potential one-sided season in 2024. I want Hamilton to get another fair shot beating Verstappen but if Merc can't then hopefully someone other than Merc closes the gap.
Realistically, as he gets older he is going to lose a bit of speed and Verstappen is getting faster, if anything. Peak Hamilton vs peak Verstappen would be a hell of a fight, but I think now Verstappen wins in closely matched machinery. Hamilton might need to find a team that can give him an outright faster car than Red Bull to get that 8th title now.
Ferrari - Hamilton and Leclerc
It’s going to be interesting to see thousands of Ferrari followers at Monza going fanatical as Lewis pulls out the garage. Not to mention Silverstone being a sea of Ferrari red
Mercedes: Russell | Schumacher
Red Bull: Verstappen | Ricciardo
Alpine: Gasly | Martins
McLaren: Norris | Piastri
Racing Bulls: Tsunoda | Lawson
Sauber: Sainz | Pourchaire
Aston Martin: Alonso | Drugovich
Williams: Bottas | Albon
Haas: Hulkenberg | Bearman
Is my pick for 2025...
Alonso won the title...
This is monumental in Italy. Ferrari are their first love. The highest profile driver in the sport in their team is gonna be like nothing we have seen for a long time.
The Sky Italy guy they had on compared it to when Juve signed Cristiano Ronaldo.