Lewis Hamilton made a promise to finish his career with Mercedes.
The 2024 Formula 1 season is in full swing, with the summer break approaching. The summer break is usually a time when many transfer announcements are made, and it has a notable history in that regard. However, the most significant announcement of the season came even before it started, when Hamilton revealed that he would be driving for Ferrari in 2025. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff discussed the impact of this announcement.
Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013, when the team was in the midfield. However, his move to the German team proved to be the best career decision he could have made, as he won six world championships in the next seven years. Despite this success, he was unable to secure his eighth title in 2021, which led him to make the difficult decision to go to Ferrari. This decision left Wolff, who is both his long-time friend and boss, feeling betrayed.
Wolff expressed that the announcement caught him by surprise and he did not have enough time to react or explain the situation to the parties involved. He felt hurt because he realized that Ferrari was the driving force behind Hamilton’s move. Despite this, Wolff acknowledged that their friendship, which has lasted for over a decade, is not easily broken.
Although he felt betrayed, the 52-year-old man understood Hamilton’s perspective and the reasons behind his decision to leave Mercedes. He recognized that the team was not performing well and that it is every driver’s dream to race for the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari. Therefore, he empathized with Hamilton’s choice.
In addition to Hamilton’s change announcement, there have been rumors of tension between Wolff and Hamilton, with allegations that the Mercedes team was sabotaging Hamilton’s car. However, the team denied these accusations, and Hamilton has been performing well, as evidenced by his recent podium in Spain.
