Lewis Hamilton: “Enthusiastic about this new challenge”

Lewis Hamilton: "Excited about this new challenge"

"I am thrilled with this new challenge", the first words as a Maranello driver, although the actual arrival will take another year, of Hamilton, without mentioning Ferrari in deference to the political correctness of communication, "I have spent 11 wonderful years with this team – the words of the Englishman, who remains a Mercedes driver for the whole of next season – and I am so proud of what we have achieved together. The decision to leave è was one of the most difficult I have ever had to make".

Toto Wolff waved goodbye to Hamilton with fair play, implicitly banishing suspicions of an even more brutal breakup. "In terms of the team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis è became the most successful the sport has ever seen, and è something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes” motorsport history.

“However, we knew that our partnership would sooner or later come to a natural end, and that day è arrived. We accept Lewis’ decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we have one more season to go, and we are focused on racing to deliver a strong 2024”.

ANSA asked former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo for his opinion on this resounding market coup. Here is his answer: "An unexpected and impressive coup, I hope it can be useful not only to the competitivenessà of the team, but it also represents a way to turn the spotlight on the team, which needed it. Hamilton è a great champion, he will want to do everything to close his career by winning the world championship, Leclerc looking for his first title, there will be fun. But with two number ones having a winning car will be even more important, è essential if not this choice would prove to be a great risk”.