Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, poised to finish his career at beloved team Mercedes, stunned the world of sports with a historic transfer to Ferrari earlier this year. Having signed a two-year extension contract with Mercedes in October, Hamilton flipped five months and one winter break later.
That being said, the transfer of the century will not happen until 2025, which will allow Lewis Hamilton enough time to get well-versed in the culture and atmosphere of Maranello. However, to kill Lewis’ euphoria, former F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve issued a stern warning to the British driver, stating how life at Ferrari would be totally different than his expectations.
Jacques Villeneuve Warns Lewis Hamilton Of Hostile Environment In Ferrari!
Lewis Hamilton, 39, took a leap of faith to switch to Ferrari for the 2025 season and beyond in one of the most stunning and unexpected transfers in the sport’s history. While Lewis must have had his reasons, reclaiming his eighth world championship seems to be one of the many factors contributing to his abrupt switch. As the British driver said earlier, he is excited to drive an iconic red car and cannot wait to be a part of the esteemed organization. However, former F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve does not believe Hamilton’s experience in Maranello will be as pleasant as he expects it to be. Jacques, whose late father also drove for Ferrari, warned the seven-time world champion of a hostile environment.
Villeneuve added that behind the glitz and glamor of Ferrari exists a politically driven toxic environment. He added that the racing outfit is chaotic, and it’s a fairly difficult place to exist as the whole of Italy either loves you or hates you in just five seconds. Indeed, Maranello’s love affair with Ferrari is not without its complexities. In recent years, the team has faced its fair share of challenges, including internal turmoil, management shake-ups, and struggles on the racetrack. Hence, it’s been tough for fans to continue to shower their unconditional support against the odds. Now, with Lewis Hamilton, the expectations will be sky-high owing to his proven track record and impeccable success. Hence, Hamilton will endure a fair share of criticism and scrutiny as he heads to Italy on a multi-year contract.
Toto Wolff Takes Subtle Dig At Hamilton Citing His Ferrari Move
Despite finishing as low as P18 in the recently concluded Chinese Grand Prix’s qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton was smiling and laughing in the media session. He admitted making a major mistake with his set up, which backfired on him pretty badly. However, he didn’t seem concerned and, in fact, conveyed positivity.
However, Lewis Hamilton’s happy-to-go attitude irked Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff as he claimed that perhaps Lewis Hamilton is not much worried about Mercedes’ performance lapses due to his impending move to Ferrari. Wolff explained that Hamilton was never this happy after an abysmal race and that his recent attitude surely left Wolff surprised and puzzled at the same time.
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