Welcome at RacingNews365

Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom. Create your free account now!

  • Share your thoughts and opinions about F1
  • Win fantastic prizes
  • Get access to our premium content
  • Take advantage of more exclusive benefits
Sign in
Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton F1 career regret concern revealed

Lewis Hamilton will complete a childhood dream next season with his move to Ferrari.

Hamilton COTA
Article
To news overview © XPBimages

A key detail behind Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been revealed, by the author of new book 'Inside Mercedes F1: Life in the Fast Lane'.

Hamilton has just three races remaining as a Mercedes driver, before embarking on one of the biggest moves in the history of the pinnacle of motorsport. 

It was announced earlier this year on February 1 that the 39-year-old will partner Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next season, completing a childhood dream of the seven-time world champion's. 

The 105-time race winner's move was a bombshell, which left him facing an entire campaign knowing it would be his last with the Silver Arrows. 

Author of the book, Matt Whyman, has revealed what the atmosphere was like at the Brackley-based team the first time Hamilton was seen by them all following the big news. 

"Soon after the announcement was the shakedown for the W15 at Silverstone. That was the first chance that pretty much the whole team got to see Lewis," Whyman told Mirror Sport.

"It was a strange atmosphere for about 30 seconds, I would say - but as soon as he got in the car it was business as usual. 

"People came to terms with it and I think people understood his reasons, which are very simple, really."

Hamilton retirement plan

Based on the recent form of Ferrari, moving to the Maranello-based team is looking like an excellent decision by Hamilton. 

He has endured a difficult campaign with Mercedes, with the clear highlight being his victory at the British Grand Prix. 

Mercedes has again struggled to maintain an upward trajectory, and has taken steps backwards since winning three out of four races before the summer break. 

However, performance is not the sole reason of Hamilton's move, with it being revealed that the veteran does not want to get to the end of his career and regret not taking an opportunity. 

Whyman continued: "I asked him directly what was going on and he just said, ‘It is every kid's dream who gets involved in motor racing to race a Ferrari, and that is it - I did not want to get to the end of my career and look back and go, what if?’

"He says he knows when the end of his career will be. He has got this very clear plan ahead of him.

"He said it is really meaningful to him, the fact that he has won all these races with Mercedes and he has been on this journey.

"The one thing he had not done and he just thought, ‘I do not want to walk away and go, I wish I had done that'."

Also interesting:

Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on last weekend's spectacular São Paulo Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's incredible victory from 17th is a leading talking point, and how the Dutchman is within touching distance of a fourth F1 drivers' title.

Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and claim your chance to win F1 cale models and caps

SUBSCRIBE & WIN

Join the conversation!

x
LATEST F1 causes a sensation with driver rankings - Verstappen not number one