Hamilton surprised the world of Formula 1 with his announcement that he will join Ferrari in 2025, marking the end of his 12-year decade and six F1 championships with Mercedes. Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former teammate at Mercedes, expressed his surprise at the news but understood the reasoning behind the British driver’s decision. In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Rosberg stated that, although the announcement was unexpected, it made sense considering the prestige of both Mercedes and Ferrari as legendary teams. He also noted Hamilton’s affinity for Ferrari’s road cars, making the switch an opportunity for him to drive for both iconic teams.
Hamilton’s decision seems to be a wise one, especially considering Mercedes’ current struggles in producing a competitive F1 car under the new “ground effect” rules. Rosberg highlighted that the move could be similar to Hamilton’s decision to join Mercedes 12 years ago when they were not performing well but subsequently became race winners. The timing of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari may once again prove advantageous for him.
However, joining Ferrari means that Hamilton will have to face one of the most talented drivers of the current F1 generation, Charles Leclerc. Leclerc, a product of the Ferrari junior driver program, is highly regarded by fans and experts. When asked about the dynamic between the two drivers, Rosberg mentioned that Leclerc does not seem like someone who would engage in conflicts with his teammate, which could make the situation less volatile. However, he acknowledged Leclerc’s exceptional qualifying skills, ranking him second only to Max Verstappen. Rosberg predicted a tough battle between the two drivers and believed their performance levels would be very similar.
If Rosberg’s predictions come true, Ferrari will not have to deal with the animosity between the drivers that Mercedes faced when Rosberg and Hamilton were teammates.
