The trend at Ferrari is down, the trend at Mercedes is up – Did Lewis Hamilton make the wrong decision by switching to Maranello?
“No, not at all,” was Lewis Hamilton’s answer after the Spanish Grand Prix when asked whether he might have made a mistake by signing with Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Because there were already signs of a small turnaround in the pecking order of the premier class
While Ferrari recorded a double zero in Canada and also missed out on the podium with both cars in Spain, George Russell took pole and third place in Montreal, while Hamilton himself finished third on the podium in Barcelona.
At the time, Hamilton explained: “I can’t say what’s wrong with their car and why they are in the position they are in today. But they have brought an upgrade here and I think they are definitely making progress.”
“It doesn’t make me question my decision,” said the record champion, who reminded: “They’ve had a difficult couple of races, but let’s not forget that they won a race in Monaco.” However, since these statements, the trend has become more entrenched.
While Ferrari also failed to finish higher than third in the subsequent races in Spielberg and Silverstone, Mercedes won both races. All in all, that makes 125 points for Mercedes in the last four races and just 50 for Ferrari.
Still fully involved at Mercedes
So the question inevitably arises as to whether Hamilton might have backed the wrong horse? The Briton himself emphasizes that he is currently still concentrating on his work at Mercedes. “I will start next year with the other team, which I think is doing a good job,” he emphasizes.
“I love Mercedes. I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 and I will always be a fan and supporter of Mercedes. And my job this year is to work as hard as I can with the crew I have and the people at the factory to develop the car in the right direction,” said Hamilton.
He has already fulfilled his dream of (at least) one last victory with the Silver Arrows at his home race last weekend. The triumph in Silverstone is also a sign that Hamilton is not yet on the sidelines at Mercedes.
He makes it clear: “I have not been excluded from any meetings and we are still working on this car and trying to get it to the top.” Despite his imminent departure, the collaboration behind the scenes is “still very cooperative”, he reports.
Hamilton assures: Do not pass on any information to Ferrari
Of course it was “inevitable”, Hamilton said, that he would be excluded from the further development of the car at some point. “If there comes a point where they say, ‘We’d prefer not to have you at this meeting’, that’s perfectly fine with me,” he clarifies.
However, he assures that he will not pass on any internal information to Ferrari before the end of his current contract anyway. Although he is already in regular contact with Ferrari boss John Elkann, the record world champion reveals.
However, he emphasizes: “We only talk about fashion and things we want to do [together]. But nothing to do with racing. He knows that racing and winning come first, but we can’t talk about that yet.”
That will only change after the end of the current season. And then it will also be a little clearer whether the move to Maranello is more of a sporting promotion or relegation for Hamilton.
