Lewis Hamilton does not yet know how to make contact with Ferrari for 2025 and wants to consult with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on the matter first
Lewis Hamilton says he will speak to Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff first before opening talks about working with Ferrari for 2025
The seven-time world champion’s move to the Scuderia is casting its shadow. Even before the current 2024 Formula 1 season, it was officially announced that Hamilton would be leaving the Mercedes team for Maranello next year.
This is a strange situation for the Briton, as he went into the season knowing that he would no longer be with Mercedes next year – but with a direct competitor.
He knows that at some point he will have to start talks about working with Ferrari. But he does not yet know when and how this will happen. He wants to discuss this with his current boss first.
“I think it will start with a conversation with Toto, because I don’t know how to navigate that,” admits Hamilton. After all, he is not yet familiar with such a situation in Formula 1.
Hamilton has only changed teams once before: From his long-time sponsor McLaren to Mercedes after the 2012 season. At that time, however, the switch was only finalized late in the season and Hamilton was only able to work with his new team relatively late.
“I don’t think I was at Mercedes until December when the first seat-fitting was done after the season,” he says.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to do it this time, but right now I want to finish on a high here,” says the seven-time world champion, emphasizing that his focus is currently on Mercedes. “All my energy is going into that.”
“Of course I’m looking forward to the future, but we’re in a difficult situation at the moment – and that’s my challenge,” he says. “That’s where all my energy is going: To figure 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,” said Hamilton. “Thinking about next year doesn’t help me with that. “
