Lewis Hamilton stunned Formula 1 when he announced in February that he would leave Mercedes and join Ferrari for 2025.
Helmut Marko expressed his “surprise” at the decision of Lewis Hamilton to retire. Mercedes and join Ferrari.
Despite signing a new two-year contract with Mercedes in mid-2023, it was reported in February that Hamilton had activated a release clause in it to leave after just one year, ending the most successful driver team partnership. in F1 history.
Although long presented as a possibility, Hamilton was never seen as a real option for Ferrari – because leaving has consequences for the driver market next season.
While Red Bull motorsport adviser Marko admitted his surprise at the news, he thought it was good news for F1.
“There were rumors, but there are a lot of rumors, especially in the winter, because there is no competition,” Marko told grandprix247.com.
“But when it was officially announced, I heard it the day before it was announced and I was really surprised.
“But on the other hand, it is very good for Formula 1.
“It is the most successful driver in the story and with Ferrari the share price went up.
“So you see the impact on the marketing and financial side.
“Usually it’s July or August to talk about next year’s drivers and Hamilton moving so early means everything was earlier.
“Most of the deals are already done but we’ll see, it should be interesting for sure. “
Driver market situation
Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari had an impact and Carlos Sainz became the bottle cap
There are seven places on offer from the British GP – Mercedes, RB , Haas, Alpine , Williams and Sauber
Second, Red Bull’s seat is now under threat because the Mexican has fallen alarmingly in the last races.
Sainz has spoken with Mercedes, Alpine, Williams and Stake, who will be Audi in 2026. Sainz was a long-term goal
However, the three-time Grand Prix winner is taking time to decide where he will drive in 2025, so other drivers are waiting for his decision.
Among them is Valtteri Bottas, with the Finn disappointed by Sainz’s delay but still confident he will remain in F1 in 2025, albeit not with the Stake team he has driven for since 2022 when it was Alfa Romeo..
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