Last Updated on February 18 2024, 2:53 am

The 2024 Formula One pre-season news from behind the scenes has been electric. Despite the FIA approving the Cadillac-Andretti F1 application, FOM have refused them on what General Motors now say are spurious grounds.

Then there came the shock Red Bull allegations which has seen the longest standing F1 team principal accused of “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards a member of staff at Milton Keynes. Christian Horner denies all the allegations but the hope of a quick resolution following his eight hour interview with an independent lawyer last week failed to materialise and the matter looks as though it will drag on beyond the opening Grand Prix of the year.

 

 

 

Hamilton rancour following Mercedes’ deal

Amidst all this Lewis Hamilton dropped his own bombshell that having signed just months ago a new two year deal with Mercedes, he will be leaving the team which furnished him with six world titles to join Ferrari.

The roots of Hamilton’s rancour clearly was found in the terms Mercedes finally offered their star driver who had stated more than once publicly he wanted to finish his career with the silver arrows team. Reports from Bloomberg early last year revealed Lewis’ management team were looking for a five year deal together with a ten year ambassador role with the German automotive brand.

Toto Wolff subsequently informed the assembled media he believed the signing of the contract with Hamilton should be relatively simple. 

“It’s just a matter of him physically being back in Europe, sticking our heads together, wrestling a bit, and then leaving the room with white smoke after a few hours,” said the Mercedes boss mid January 2023. Yet the contract took over half the F1 season to conclude and at the big reveal of the new deal Lewis appeared less than enthusiastic.

Leclerc demands ferrari exit clause after Hamilton announcement

 

 

 

Wolff explains why no five year deal for Lewis

He spoke of the longevity of the careers of Fernando Alonso and NFL quarterback Tom Brady which appeared a disconnect with the short term deal he agreed with Mercedes which would conclude for him before the age of either of the sportsmen he cited.

Toto Wolff gave an apologetic as to why the new arrangement was for just two years and not five and his words are now to have proven clearly disingenuous.

“It comes from both sides experiencing change in this age. This is a dynamic environment so signing a five year contract means you have to discuss any escape clause in case we’re not providing him with a car that’s not performing,” the Mercedes boss revealed.

“So we didn’t entertain that we said the foreseeable future is two years and that’s what we are committing to.” concluded Wolff.

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Mercedes suspicious of Hamilton behaviour

Now of course it has become apparent that there were escape clauses discussed even in the shorter two year arrangement eventually agreed and of course Lewis Hamilton has exercised his right to leave the team anyway.

It’s not difficult to interpret Hamilton’s decision to leave for Ferrari as  in some part vengeance on Mercedes for failing to give him the longevity of deal he required.

Wolff himself questioned the timing of Lewis revelations he was leaving for Italy when questioned how he felt over his driver’s decision.

“My thoughts were pragmatic. What does it mean? When are we communicating this? What are the pressure points? How are we managing the season going forward? I will always respect the difficulty of the situation that he faced and in the future we will discuss whether this could have been done in a different way or not, but I hold no grudge.”

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Brundle calls ‘bulls$%t’ on Lewis’ explanation

Of course Hamilton has raced for Mercedes since his youth given during his time at McLaren the Woking F1 cars were powered by the German brand and Lewis spoke of how “emotional” it would be to leave the team who have given him great success.

Now Martin Brundle calls ‘bullS&%t’ on Hamilton’s feelings saying, “I don’t buy all of this, ‘It’s going to be emotional leaving’,” said the Sky F12 commentator and former F1 driver.

“Lewis is a winning machine and that’s what he wants to do. It’s a good contract, he’ll be paid a lot of money, get a lot of love, and it will be one of global sport’s biggest stories in 2025.”

Brundle goes on to reflect on the announcements made by Mercedes and Hamilton when his new deal was signed just a few months ago.

Alonso fumes: “I think it’s unfair”

 

 

 

Mercedes “disingenuous” over Hamilton contract

“The teams are slightly disingenuous when they tell you about new contract signings, because they only tell you edited highlights that suit them. Clearly, they forgot to mention that Hamilton had an exit clause, which he has chosen to take very early indeed.”

Hamilton has now a new story to write, though whether he will be capable of besting Ferrari’s current number one driver Charles Leclerc is yet to be seen. Though Brundle observes this is a win/win for Ferrari as gaining a seven times world champion driver in Maranello, “will energise Ferrari, Charles Leclerc as well, and certainly us watching it. I don’t really see any downside there.”

Clearly Leclerc now has the opportunity to race Hamilton in the same machinery and prove he is better, something which was not possible while Lewis remained with Mercedes. The match up will whet the appetite for many F1 observer but that story will not unfold until this time next year.

George Russell now has the opportunity to do what no other team mate has done to Lewis Hamilton in his 16 year long career; finish ahead of him this year and Russell will be the first to have done this twice.

‘New evidence’ in Horner misconduct case revealed

 

 

 

Brundle: “Act in haste, repent at leisure”

Of course the conundrum for Mercedes is who do they recruit to replace the man who has led them to fame and glory for now over a decade. Having been in the doldrums since the new car design regulations came into force in 2022 Mercedes may bounce back this year and deliver a car capable of challenging Red Bull

“I think it will energise Mercedes, losing Lewis, and it will be an opportunity for them to act in haste, repent at leisure. They can wait and see [on Hamilton’s replacement]. Why do they need to jump now?,” Martin Brundle concluded.

Wolff may come to regret playing fast and lose with Hamilton’s contract demands and has been exposed as one who was “disingenuous” when questioned over the terms of the agreement.

Will Hamilton have the last laugh and bring a title to Ferrari in the future, something they’ve failed to achieve now for some sixteen seasons?

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