Hamilton is set to make a switch from the Mercedes team to Ferrari at the end of 2024. The announcement of this move came as a shock to the world, especially considering Hamilton’s previous commitment to Mercedes. After spending 11 years with the German outfit in Brackley, he will now be heading to Maranello in northern Italy.
As Hamilton prepares for this transition, there are questions about his involvement in Mercedes’ development for the 2025 car. It is uncertain how much the team will utilize his expertise and whether he will continue to be informed about their plans. Hamilton acknowledges that being excluded from meetings is inevitable and he is comfortable with this reality, despite rumors of sabotage circulating within the Mercedes camp.
During a media interview before the 2024 British GP, Hamilton addressed these concerns. He stated that he has not yet been excluded from any meetings and that the collaboration between him and Mercedes is still ongoing as they work towards improving their car’s performance. However, he understands that there may come a point where the team prefers him not to be present in certain meetings. Hamilton emphasizes that any information he receives this year will not impact his involvement with Ferrari next year, as communication between the two teams has not yet begun.
In the lead up to the 2024 Spanish GP, there were allegations against Mercedes, claiming that they intentionally left Hamilton’s tires too cold during qualifying. These allegations were brought to light through an email sent by an unnamed representative of the team to members of the media and key figures within F1. The email suggested that this tactic was affecting Hamilton’s performance and safety on the track.
Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, addressed these allegations during a media session on June 21. He clarified that the email did not come from a member of the team and that they receive similar emails frequently. Wolff expressed his concern over the content of the email, particularly the mention of death threats, and stated that they have taken the matter seriously. The team has initiated a full investigation, involving the police, to identify the source of the email. After conducting an internal analysis, Mercedes concluded that the email did not originate from within their team. The police investigation also determined that no criminal behavior was involved.
Photo from Lewis Hamilton Instagram
