Lewis Hamilton has expressed uncertainty about whether Mercedes will permit him to begin his tenure with Ferrari prior to the 2025 Formula 1 season, emphasizing his commitment to aiding his present team in reclaiming their top position.
Following a distinguished and triumphant stint with Mercedes, Hamilton will depart the team at this season’s end, having disclosed in February his decision to switch to Ferrari in 2025.
This revelation sent shock-waves through the Formula 1 community, especially since it arrived merely five months subsequent to Hamilton renewing his contract with Mercedes, a deal that was supposed to last until the conclusion of the 2025 season.
Now confirmed to join Ferrari at the beginning of the next year, Hamilton is positioned in the unique situation of spending the entire 2024 season with Mercedes, despite the impending separation between the driver and the team.
In a conversation with the press alongside Thomas Maher following the surprising news, Mercedes’ Toto Wolff acknowledged the potential for “challenging situations” throughout 2024, as the team strategizes to prevent Hamilton from sharing sensitive information with his future team, Ferrari.
Precedents exist for drivers leaving their teams ahead of schedule for significant moves, such as Hamilton’s former competitor Sebastian Vettel, who departed Red Bull to begin testing with Ferrari in November 2014, a couple of months prior to his official start with the team.
Hamilton, whose career has seen only one major change before—his move from McLaren to Mercedes at the start of 2013—is uncertain if a similar arrangement will be made for him. He mentioned, “I think it will start with a conversation with Toto because I don’t know how to navigate that.
“I don’t think I was at Mercedes until December [2012], when the first seat fitting was made after the season. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it this time.”
Hamilton displayed frustration towards a journalist who questioned him about his forthcoming move to Ferrari following a difficult race at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he finished a disappointing ninth, marking his most challenging beginning to a Formula 1 season yet.
At 39, Hamilton is resolute in his desire to conclude his tenure with Mercedes on a positive note in 2024, stating that discussions regarding his future at Ferrari might divert his focus. He stated, “Right now, I want to finish on a high. All my energy is going into that.
“Of course I’m looking forward to the future, but we’re currently in a difficult situation – and that’s my challenge. That’s where all my energy is going: to find out how we can get back to the top.
“How can I work with the boys? Can I give better debriefs? Can I give better direction? I’m a competitive guy first and foremost, so I want to win. Thinking about next year doesn’t help me with that.”
