Karun Chandhok firmly believes that Lewis Hamilton had a premonition of Mercedes’ impending struggles in 2024 before making his pivotal decision to switch to Ferrari.
The announcement of Hamilton’s sensational move to Ferrari came just as the new season was about to kick off in February, catching many, including Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, off guard.
The timing of Hamilton’s decision raised eyebrows across the paddock, with speculation rife about the motivations behind such a significant shift. As the 2024 season unfolds, it increasingly appears that Hamilton’s intuition was spot on.
Ferrari currently boasts the second-fastest car on the grid, positioning them ahead of Mercedes in the pecking order.
Mercedes, on the other hand, seems to be grappling with familiar challenges. Their performance issues, particularly evident in high-speed corners, have resurfaced, causing them to lag behind their rivals. The resurgence of Mercedes’ “bouncing” troubles underscores the complexity of their predicament.
During a recent segment on Sky Sports’ F1 coverage, Chandhok and Naomi Schiff deliberated on whether Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari was influenced by early murmurs of Mercedes’ anticipated struggles.
The speculation surrounding Hamilton’s foresight adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, suggesting a deeper understanding of the dynamics within the Formula 1 landscape.
Schiff stated: “I don’t actually think so. It seems they came into the season with really high hopes.
“Maybe they didn’t have the outright pace to beat the Red Bulls but, after testing, there was ambition from them that they’d be the best of the rest, maybe with Ferrari. That hasn’t played out yet.”
Chandhok expressed a more skeptical viewpoint: “I am going to disagree. I think he did know. What they put out there – the messages of positivity – are one thing. But I think he knew that it’s going to be a tough year.”
Hamilton’s concerns regarding an unstable rear-end were a persistent issue throughout the Saudi Arabia weekend.
According to former Aston Martin strategist Bernie Collins, this factor played a role in Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari.
“He was saying that for all of last year, as well,” she clarified. “Possibly, that’s one of the reasons why he’s moving teams.
“He’s still not happy in the car. You can see the set-up changes that they made yesterday, really uncomfortable.
“The high speed looks terrible. You can other cars just pulling away from him. There is a bit of work to be done there.”
