During the unveiling of Mercedes’ 2024 car at Silverstone, the renowned home of the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton expressed his gratitude for the privilege of working with the team. Hamilton has been a part of the Mercedes family since 2013, achieving six out of his seven F1 Titles with the team. However, he has surprised many by announcing his departure at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari. This unexpected move has caused a stir in the world of Formula 1 and has taken Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff by surprise.
Hamilton shared his emotions, stating, “It has obviously been an emotional journey. It feels surreal to be standing here, considering I joined this team back in 2013. It has been 11 years with the team, and I am about to embark on my 12th. It is a true privilege to collaborate with such a remarkable group of individuals who tirelessly work to achieve greatness, especially during the winter season.”
Before heading to Bahrain for three days of pre-season testing next week, Mercedes had planned a brief “shakedown” run at Silverstone on Wednesday. The team’s main focus is to regain their former glory. Hamilton explained, “We have faced some challenging years, which I believe have grounded us and allowed us to regroup.”
Toto Wolff described the 2024 Mercedes car, the W15, as a “complete relaunch” in terms of design. The car’s livery brings back a touch of Mercedes’ traditional silver on the nose, deviating from the predominantly black appearance of the previous year. Wolff emphasized the significant mechanical changes made to the car, which are expected to enhance performance and predictability. He expressed his optimism, saying, “We hope these modifications will enable our drivers to push the car to its limits. We eagerly anticipate seeing the results next week in Bahrain.”
Mercedes faced difficulties in adapting to the new ground-effect aerodynamics introduced in 2022. Consequently, the team failed to secure a single victory last season, with Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominating throughout the year. Recognizing the challenge ahead, Wolff acknowledged, “We are aware that it is a daunting task to bridge the gap when a team like Red Bull has a significant advantage. However, we possess an exceptional driver combination, a potentially fast car, and a dedicated team of individuals in our factory who are determined to succeed. With these key ingredients, we have a strong chance of returning to the forefront of the sport.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed his excitement about Hamilton’s arrival, describing it as a “tremendous opportunity” for the Italian team. Ferrari has not seen one of its drivers clinch the world title since Kimi Raikkonen defeated Hamilton in 2007. Hamilton will join forces with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in 2025, leaving Carlos Sainz Jr., Leclerc’s current teammate, in search of a new team for the upcoming season. (The Associated Press)
According to the Source grandprix247.com