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Max Verstappen says Lewis Hamilton’s change to Ferrari for 2025 was not a shock to him, however reckons the early timing of the seismic announcement will make issues a “little bit awkward” at Mercedes within the new season.
Crimson Bull’s Verstappen was requested about his rival’s blockbuster transfer for the primary time on the launch of his workforce’s new automotive and recommended it was “not a shock for me that they had been speaking”.
“On the finish of the day seeing him go to Ferrari will not be a shock. If that is your objective as a child or your dream then you definitely go, proper?” Verstappen, F1’s reigning triple world champion, instructed reporters.
“The one factor for me was that it appeared prefer it [the news] was a bit leaked in fact after which they needed to announce it as a result of to announce one thing that massive that early within the season I feel for positive for the remainder of the 12 months is a bit bit awkward.
“Regardless that you have got had loads of success collectively as a workforce, you possibly can’t be included into every part anymore.
“However for him going to Ferrari it is probably not surprising.”
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz admits he was shocked by the information that Hamilton will exchange him in 2025, however insists he has a number of engaging choices for his subsequent transfer
Hamilton has rewritten the game’s document books throughout his 11 years at Mercedes, the place he has gained six of his seven world titles, in an affiliation that had appeared set to take the 39-year-old to the top of his F1 profession earlier than information of his beautiful Ferrari transfer emerged.
Verstappen says it’s inevitable that, as with every driver leaving a workforce, Hamilton might be evaded sure discussions and knowledge associated to plans for future seasons as this marketing campaign wears on.
Nevertheless, he doesn’t consider there might be a change to the extent of help and backing that Mercedes give their long-serving driver.
“For positive he has an amazing relationship with everybody and particularly additionally with Toto (Wolff). However he additionally is aware of at one level, and Toto for positive will inform him like ‘I am actually sorry, we have had all this success, however you possibly can’t be a part of sure conferences anymore’,” added Verstappen.
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur says Hamilton might be a ‘enormous asset’ when he joins the workforce, however he expects Sainz to proceed to present his greatest for the rest of his time with the workforce
“That is regular in F1 and it is in all probability a bit bizarre, however you are skilled sufficient to take care of that [as a driver].
“On the finish of the day, you’re skilled sufficient to simply take care of what you have got.
“It is not like they’re out of the blue enemies or no matter. He has achieved so many nice issues with that complete workforce that they’re nonetheless behind him, it is simply at one level you possibly can’t simply share sure stuff. However as soon as he’s sitting within the automotive they’ll nonetheless go flat out for him to attempt to win races as nicely.”
Toto Wolff says he respects Hamilton’s determination to go away Mercedes, and insists their friendship will stay past the top of their skilled relationship
Talking on the identical matter earlier this month within the wake of Hamilton’s Ferrari change being introduced, Mercedes boss Wolff mentioned the 2025 info situation was “not one thing that bothers me in any respect”.
“Now we have engineers that depart us and go to different groups and the discover durations are generally as quick as six months,” Wolff mentioned.
“So I haven’t got any doubt in Lewis’ integrity when it comes to sharing info. In that respect, we wish to ensure that it is a profitable season for each drivers [Hamilton and George Russell], and a profitable season for Mercedes.”
Ferrari face the identical state of affairs with Carlos Sainz, who Hamilton is changing subsequent 12 months.
Max: ‘Possibly they’ve proven him stuff that we do not know’ | Horner admires Hamilton ‘bravery’
Hamilton takes to the monitor at Silverstone to check out the brand new Mercedes automotive forward of his ultimate season with the workforce as team-mate George Russell observes from the aspect
Ferrari, like Mercedes, are nonetheless looking for a efficiency breakthrough within the sport’s present ground-effect regulation space which has been completely dominated by Verstappen and Crimson Bull to this point.
Talking to Sky Sports activities Information, Verstappen mentioned when requested in regards to the potential causes for Hamilton’s change to Maranello for subsequent 12 months: “From my aspect it’s totally tough to know. I do not know the way the present state of affairs is in fact on the workforce.
“I do not know what he has in the back of his thoughts – if it is a dream from if you had been a child then at one level, if you happen to’ve already achieved a lot within the sport anyway then why not?
“However then once more, possibly he is spoken to Ferrari and so they’ve proven him stuff that we do not know, so for me it’s totally tough to reply that.”
Christian Horner, Verstappen’s workforce boss at Crimson Bull, praised the boldness of Hamilton’s transfer and likewise suspected the seven-time champion could have seen one thing at Ferrari “which he likes the look of” for the long run.
“I feel Ferrari are a aggressive workforce,” Horner instructed Craig Slater.
“They’ve laid their marker down by hiring a driver like Lewis. It is a massive determination by him to stroll away from that relationship with Mercedes-Benz that is been all through his whole profession from even earlier than Method 1.
“So you have to admire his bravery with that, however Ferrari is a superb model and clearly he is seen one thing there that he likes the look of.”
When is F1 pre-season testing?
Pre-season testing takes place from Wednesday February 21 to Friday February 23 on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit with simply three days for the groups to get ready for the brand new season.
When is the primary F1 race?
Only one week later, the opening race of the 2024 season will start with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2.
Because of the Muslim holy interval of Ramadan, the Bahrain and, seven days later, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, might be held on a Saturday.
This implies follow one and two will happen on Thursdays, with ultimate follow and qualifying on Fridays.
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Watch pre-season testing from Bahrain reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from February 21-23 and each spherical of the brand new season, beginning with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29-March 2. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership
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