Sky Sports activities F1’s Martin Brundle and Jenson Button weigh in on Lewis Hamilton’s shock transfer to Ferrari for 2025 and what it means for F1; Hamilton to exchange Carlos Sainz subsequent 12 months on multi-year deal to develop into Charles Leclerc’s new teammate
18:40 UK Saturday 03 February 2024
Martin Brundle believes Lewis Hamilton’s shock transfer to Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season might be “Schumacher-esque”.
Hamilton will go away Mercedes on the finish of subsequent season and change Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, F1’s most well-known and iconic workforce, in a transfer as sudden as it’s gorgeous.
The seven-time world champion, who’s statistically probably the most profitable driver in F1 historical past with 103 wins and 104 pole positions, might be teammates with Charles Leclerc.
“I talked to him about it for years, interviews [along the lines of] “Would not you love to do a Michael Schumacher and be part of Ferrari to make them champions?” Brundle mentioned Sky Sports activities Information.
“He at all times mentioned, ‘I have been with Mercedes, even after I was at McLaren, I had Mercedes engines, they’re my workforce and my producer for all times.’
“What a narrative – Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari”.
Brundle: By no means write off Hamilton | Motion might energize him
Hamilton made his F1 debut with McLaren in 2007, profitable his first world title in simply his second marketing campaign. He joined Mercedes in 2013 and received six championships with the workforce from probably the most dominant team-driver mixture within the historical past of the game.
The 39-year-old, nonetheless, has not received a race for over two years because the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in December 2021.
Ferrari have received only one drivers’ title, nonetheless, with Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, because the finish of Michael Schumacher’s interval of dominance when he received 5 consecutive championships on the flip of the century.
Schumacher, who joined Ferrari from Benetton in 1996, ultimately grew to become their first champion for 21 years.
“You by no means write Lewis Hamilton off,” mentioned Brundle.
“He is aware of easy methods to win races and championships and he might be similar to Schumacher if he can go there and actually lead the workforce to start out profitable extra races and be championship contenders.”
Brundle can be excited in regards to the prospect of Hamilton teaming up with Leclerc.
“I feel Leclerc is, on a qualifying lap, the quickest driver in the mean time – together with even Max Verstappen,” mentioned Brundle.
“He is blindingly quick, however he tends to hit just a few issues he should not as a result of he drives so near the restrict – nevertheless it’s an amazing mixture.
“Let’s additionally not overlook what an amazing driver Sainz is, who’s with Ferrari for subsequent season and doubtless has the possibility to go to Mercedes or different groups on the grid.”
Though fully sudden, Brundle believes the announcement will enhance each Mercedes and Ferrari, in addition to Hamilton.
“He is had just a few years the place he hasn’t received a race and we have seen just a few different modifications he is made, bringing again Marc Hynes, who has been his long-time mentor and eyes and ears within the paddock,” he continued Brundle.
“I feel he most likely mentioned, ‘I will cease specializing in all of the non-racing stuff and return to Lewis Hamilton, the racing driver.’
“I feel this can be a great alternative to encourage and energize him for this part of his profession.”
Button: That is huge for sports activities
Leclerc has been with Ferrari since 2019 and Hamilton might be his third teammate on the Scuderia, having partnered Sebastian Vettel for 2 seasons and Sainz since 2021.
Jenson Button spent three years as Hamilton’s teammate at McLaren and was shocked by Thursday’s information.
“That is huge for this sport. If Lewis had stayed at Mercedes, if he had received races, it will have been good, however this transfer to Ferrari is huge,” Button mentioned. Sky Sports activities F1.
“It is going to be nice for the game, everybody could have their eyes on System 1, particularly Ferrari and Lewis.
“Additionally, how is he up towards Charles Leclerc, who has the contract, so I believe he would be the one alongside Lewis for Ferrari.
“It is a huge deal to make that change in your profession while you’ve been with one workforce for therefore lengthy. To out of the blue soar to another person’s workforce, it is robust. Honest play to Lewis, it is robust.”
It’s uncommon for a driver to announce a workforce change for the next 12 months earlier than a brand new season takes place.
Fernando Alonso’s transfer to McLaren for 2007 was introduced in December 2005 after profitable his first world title with Renault.
The Spaniard received a second championship with Renault in 2006 regardless of figuring out he was leaving the workforce.
Reflecting on the timing of Hamilton’s departure, Button defined: “I feel clearly 12 years at Mercedes is longer than most individuals spend in System 1. So to spend it with one workforce and obtain what they’ve, possibly that he needed one thing completely different, to spice it up a bit.
“All of us get to that time in our profession the place we have finished what I got down to do and I selected to retire. He went the opposite manner and went, what, I really feel like I would like a change, I will Ferrari.
“It is a huge deal and I am unable to wait to see the way it goes with a Ferrari. The bizarre factor is that it is a fairly early name, to say that early.
“It has been a 12 months earlier than he steps into Ferrari, so what is going to that ambiance be like at Mercedes? It isn’t straightforward. What’s holding Lewis again? Anyway, he is aware of the weaknesses of this workforce very nicely and when it comes all the way down to it, there are particular issues that they are going to withhold from Lewis? Probably.”
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