Formula 1 2024 – WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS

I know I’m going on about this but I really want to see Lewis in a Ferrari! 🙂

Timing makes sense to…
• Do 2025 in the team to get used to the way they work ready for reg changes in 2026.
• Same would apply to Sainz as he could get his feet under the table at Audi for a year pre their 2026 entry (who are reportedly after him).

And Lewis has either…
• Driven the W15 in the sim and it’s a monster allowing him to win a 9th WDC and leave on a high.
• Or he’s driven the W15 in the sim and it’s a dog and can’t see much point in staying anymore.
• And 2026 is all change again anyway – so why not!?

Could be a dead cat to distract from the Andretti story

I don’t think the Andretti story is going away anytime soon. They have said they are still working on the F1 project. That will end in court as they’ve already been given an approved entry by the rule-makers (FIA), it’s the money-men who are throwing their toys out of the pram.

Autosport now reporting the rumour, again they are usually fairly reliable

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/hamilton-set-to-make-shock-switch-to-ferrari-in-f1-2025/10571253/

2026 is all change again anyway – so why not!?

This comes up every year. It’s not impossible that this year is different, but Ferrari already have Charles, who is spectacularly fast, and Carlos who is decently fast and very consistent. Would Lewis improve the team or just end up disrupting things?

Lewis has been at Merc a long time and they seem to get along well. Yes, he’s frustrated about the car but James Allison is back in charge of the technical team and the Ferrari hasn’t really been much better. Jumping ship to a team that is no better than Merc is a big risk.

It’s been long rumored that Hamilton wanted to end his career at Ferrari.

So it sounds like he has actually given up.

Which is the perfect mental state to join Ferrari

— For F1's Sake Pod (@forf1ssake) February 1, 2024

Would Lewis improve the team or just end up disrupting things?

I don’t think Lewis is a disruptor. He’s not Alonso! 🙂

Jumping ship to a team that is no better than Merc is a big risk.

…which is what was when he left McLaren.

And re the Andretti story being buried!…
https://www.planetf1.com/news/fia-statement-response-f1-andretti-rejection

I don’t think Lewis is a disruptor. He’s not Alonso!

No, but Leclerc isn’t as compliant as Bottas was. He will do everything he can to retain his number 1 status within the team.

As a former mad F1 fan, the current sport leaves me cold. I really don’t know what the fascination with it is. Is it out of habit? Is it the only motorsport people are aware of?

There’s loads of great series out there, that blow F1 out of the water for action, entertainment.

I’ve often thought F1 & Road cycling are two peas in a pod; hoover up all the coverage & interest, whereas all the other series are far better to watch/ follow……

and the Ferrari hasn’t really been much better.

Given that they were the only team other than RB to win a race last year, that’s 100% better than his current team.

wipperman95
Free Member

As a former mad F1 fan, the current sport leaves me cold. I really don’t know what the fascination with it is. Is it out of habit? Is it the only motorsport people are aware of?

There’s loads of great series out there, that blow F1 out of the water for action, entertainment.

I’ve often thought F1 & Road cycling are two peas in a pod; hoover up all the coverage & interest, whereas all the other series are far better to watch/ follow……

we know it’s shit and we don’t care

As a former mad F1 fan, the current sport leaves me cold. I really don’t know what the fascination with it is. Is it out of habit? Is it the only motorsport people are aware of?

It’s just like any top-line sport – it creates the headlines. Like being a fan of Man City but still supporting the local non-league club. Just because you follow one doesn’t mean you don’t watch other elements of the sport.

I’m really looking forward to WEC this year and follow WRC highlights on ITV4. I used to go to race meeting a lot but got out of the habit and things like BTCC don’t have the same draw as they used to for me.

WRC isn’t going well though with only 3 manufacturers and reports Rally1 will be dropped as soon as 2025.
https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/analysis-wrc-teams-weigh-in-on-rally2-replacing-rally1-debate/10568210/

I’ve watched F1 since the 1970s and it is a hard habit to break! 🙂

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13061245/lewis-hamilton-to-join-ferrari-for-2025-formula-1-season

Sky Sports confirming

Yep – mainstream sites are getting on board now!… 😱
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/hamilton-agrees-to-shock-ferrari-f1-move-for-2025/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68163799

Speaking of lovely looking racing cars.

I think its an age thing, those 60’s cars do nothing for me.

You are right of course. It’s like the Beatles. If you weren’t there at the time you wouldn’t appreciate the massive shift from the previous accepted norm that they represented.

Well, that and the fact that Jim Clark was my childhood hero.

This shows why its unwise for anyone to have signed a long term contract.

There was always a Mercedes seat up for grabs in the short term.

Really hope that they promote Albon out of the Williams

Sky Sports confirming

They are confirming that unnamed people have said that an agreement has been reached. Until Ferrari and Hamilton confirm it, it’s still a rumour.

If Sainz is now spare, Mercedes will surely go him

Andrea Kimi Antonelli is Mercedes new Lewis…

https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/drivers/junior-driver/andrea-kimi-antonelli

…Albon to Merc – Antonelli to Williams for a couple of seasons?

Sainz is off to Audi.

?? pic.twitter.com/Jlb6lH6RYg

— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) February 1, 2024

Am I the last person on earth to finally notice that 4 inside Lando’s logo? 🙄

Am I the last person on earth to finally notice that 4 inside Lando’s logo?

Nope, definitely not the last.

I don’t even associate him with a specific number! So never twigged either.

The only F1 numbers worth having are 1, Red 5 and 27*! 🙂

(*but only on a Ferrari!)

thepurist
Full Member

Am I the last person on earth to finally notice that 4 inside Lando’s logo? 🙄

Yeah it’s clever, I like the 63 in George’s GR logo as well.

See there’s now rumours floating about on twitter and some of the outlets that the reason it hasn’t been formally announced yet is because Ferrari are trying to get Lewis in the drivers seat for this season.

Be mental if it was true but would feel quite badly for Carlos, he’s been nothing but a solid driver for Ferrari.

Just been on the radio that “apparently” the Merc factory staff have been told that he’s off at the end of the season.

"It is huge, huge news"

Mercedes employees in Brackley have been told that Lewis Hamilton will be leaving at the end of the 2024 season ?️ pic.twitter.com/vJ81IaS9GH

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 1, 2024

Not April 1st is it?

This is somewhat unexpected!

@chainbreaker

Being hinted at on The-Race too…

…if he does move this season that really hints that the W15 is a dog and he’s been sold a lie by Mercedes.

I hope Carlos has actually signed that Audi deal as he’s just lost a chunk of his leverage…

I bet Albon has Toto on speed dial on his phone

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-announces-hamilton-split-ahead-of-ferrari-move-for-f1-2025/10571396

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-leaving-mercedes-f1-team-for-ferrari-the-hardest-decision/10571500/

Confirmed! Wow!

Why announce it now and not later in the season?

Not sure I get the logic behind that.

Ferrari’s share price has rockected today too!! Going to to be selling a lot of merch soon!! 🤣🤣

Why announce it now and not later in the season?

It seems to have happened very quick – I’m still betting Lewis drove the new car in the sim and as soon he was outside he was on the phone to Fred. It’ll be the same as the last two seasons for Merc.

IMO of course.

So, who to Mercedes then?

Albon? Sainz?

IIRC Norris and Piastri are both under contract, and would they want to move anyway?

De Vries could have had the job if it happened last year while he was still sought-after.

Who else would Merc want, and that would want them? I think Ocon still has ties there, he’s decent enough but probably not the top notch driver they would want

I reckon Ocon, then possibly Albon , but he still has red bull support so less likely, but not Sainz – he’ll go to Audi…

I can see why Lewis made the move. Every driver wants to race for Ferrari at some point (As Sebastian Vettel once said, who doesn’t love Ferrari?) and seeing as the car is more competitive than the mercedes at the moment it’s a safe bet as long as Ferrari get their race strategy sorted, the fact the decision was made this soon implies that this year’s Merc W15 hasn’t improved much on the W14.

Lewis has always made it clear he’d love to race for Ferrari at some point, plus his hero Ayrton Senna was planning to finish his career with Ferrari so I think he is trying to follow Senna’s footsteps.

Imagine winning an 8th championship with Ferrari and then retiring, it’d be the pinnacle to an amazing career.

Not convinced it’ll happen but would be great to see.