Lewis Hamilton’s tenure as a Mercedes driver will come to an end in 2024, as he prepares to make the switch to Ferrari. The announcement of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari came as a surprise to the motorsport world, with the deal being finalized shortly after rumors first emerged. This unexpected change has prompted Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, to take swift action in the 2024 driver market. Many drivers, including potential targets Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon, will become free agents at the end of the upcoming season. This situation is less than ideal for Wolff, who recently secured new contracts for both Hamilton and his teammate George Russell for 2023.
In an interview with sport.de, Red Bull chief Marko hinted that Wolff’s relationship with Fred Vasseur, who orchestrated Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, might be strained. However, Wolff seems unfazed by these speculations. He expressed his high regard for Vasseur, both as a racing manager and as a long-time friend. Wolff acknowledged that Vasseur’s loyalty now lies with Ferrari and their pursuit of top talent. He emphasized that there are no hard feelings towards Vasseur’s actions, as competition in Formula 1 is fierce and each team strives to strengthen their roster. While Wolff aims to do what’s best for Mercedes, Vasseur does the same for Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz, who has been replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, has not publicly commented on the matter. However, it is expected that his perspective aligns with Wolff’s sentiments. Both acknowledge the competitive nature of Formula 1 and the importance of teams securing the strongest possible talent.
According to the Source formula1news.co.uk