According to reports, Zhou Guanyu received insider information regarding Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari even before the Mercedes crew. The news of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari from 2025 onwards came as a surprise to most people in the racing community. The majority of the Mercedes crew were unaware of the negotiations taking place between Maranello and Hamilton. However, Guanyu made a bold claim that he was already aware of this unexpected news well in advance.
The Chinese driver stated that he didn’t pay much attention to the news initially, as many dismissed it as mere rumors. However, Guanyu emphasized that his close relationship with Hamilton’s management allowed him to gather more information about the British driver’s shocking move to Ferrari in the following season.
Furthermore, the 24-year-old revealed that he immediately reached out to Hamilton to question him about the news. Guanyu recalled that even he was taken aback by the truth behind the news. However, he believed that this revelation would be even more shocking for the people at Hamilton’s long-time team, Mercedes.
Guanyu expressed that retiring as a Ferrari driver in Formula 1 would be a great accomplishment and a dream come true. However, he also mentioned that Hamilton’s unexpected switch to Ferrari and subsequent retirement with the team was completely unforeseen. This sentiment was shared by several others in the racing community who were not entirely supportive of Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari.
Despite having signed a two-year contract with Mercedes until 2024, Hamilton activated his exit clause and finalized his move to Ferrari due to certain issues. Nevertheless, Guanyu highlighted that this move was exciting and it would be interesting to witness Hamilton driving for the red team starting from 2025.
Nevertheless, Hamilton still has one more year left with Mercedes to showcase his racing abilities. The British driver will likely push himself to the limit and strive for optimal results in order to end the season on a high note with his long-time team. Therefore, amidst these surprising developments, the racing community prepares for the challenges that lie ahead in the 2024 season.