Lewis Hamilton dropped a bombshell on the F1 world this week after announcing his shock move to Ferrari.
The F1 world was rocked earlier this week by Lewis Hamilton announcing that he would be joining Ferrari. There hadn’t been any whispers of the Brit moving to the Italian outfit for some months before news suddenly broke that a deal had already been agreed for him to join in 2025.
It’s been reported that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hadn’t long known himself before it came global news, leading to the Brackley-based outfit calling an emergency meeting to update their staff.
And now it’s been claimed all the chaos had been caused by Carlos Sainz’s father, with Motorsport
And now it’s been claimed all the chaos had been caused by Carlos Sainz’s father, with Motorsport.com claiming – as per GP Blog – he leaked the news to the Spanish press, where the story originally emerged.
Hamilton’s imminent move has sparked a lot of talk about how Charles Leclerc will be treated going forward, with the Monegasque driver seen as Ferrari’s No 1 above Sainz Jr. However, that could all change when the seven-time champion joins and ex-F1 title winner Jacques Villeneuve has predicted the team will be split into two parties.
After being dismissed from entering the battlefield of F1, and largely ridiculed as a result, Andretti are not taking the decision lying down.
While their 2026 entry has been knocked back, Andretti do still hope that they can be successful with a 2028 entry, when they would be backed by the might of General Motors.
‘We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and we would not decline a meeting with Formula 1 management,” an Andretti statement read this week.
“An in-person meeting to discuss business matters would be and remains of utmost importance to Andretti Cadillac.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the management of Formula 1 and we have written to them confirming our interest.”
Wolff won’t rule out massive gamble
Toto Wolff is very good at playing the crowd, but even by his standards the most recent sentiments regarding Lewis Hamilton’s eventual successor are questionable.
The Mercedes chief has so far not committed to anything, and given little away regarding his long-term thought processes.
But this week Wolff sparked curiosity when he failed to immediately play down talk of youngster Kimi Antonelli being promoted.
“Kimi’s been with Mercedes since he was 11,” Wolff said in his pre-conference, in the wake of Hamilton’s confirmed departure.
“He’s been in the junior programme, and his junior career was very successful.
“I think what’s most important at this stage is that he concentrates on F2.
“If we start to spin his mind or unleash rumours in the media onto him, that’s not going to help his F2 campaign.
Andretti will fight back
After being dismissed from entering the battlefield of F1, and largely ridiculed as a result, Andretti are not taking the decision lying down.
While their 2026 entry has been knocked back, Andretti do still hope that they can be successful with a 2028 entry, when they would be backed by the might of General Motors.
‘We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and we would not decline a meeting with Formula 1 management,” an Andretti statement read this week.
“An in-person meeting to discuss business matters would be and remains of utmost importance to Andretti Cadillac.
“We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the management of Formula 1 and we have written to them confirming our interest.”
- Leclerc camp ‘furious’ at Hamilton
Reports are now emerging regarding the reaction of Ferrari starboy Charles Leclerc and his true feelings on the Hamilton move.
Leclerc will drive alongside the F1 icon once he completes his switch from Mercedes, but it appears he’s not very content about it.
Reports in Italy, via Corriere dello Sport, claim Leclerc was only told about the Hamilton plan at the eleventh hour, and has taken the news badly.
His entourage, it is claimed, are now said to feel his reputation will be negatively impacted by Hamilton’s arrival and Ferrari’s desperation to get him on board
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