Red Bull's Max Verstappen has reacted to Lewis Hamilton's shock news that he will leave Mercedes at the end of the upcoming season.
Hamilton will link up with Ferrari to start a new chapter in his career having won six World Championships with the Mercedes organisation.
Verstappen shared an intense rivalry with Hamilton during the 2021 campaign when they battled for the title.
When asked by RacingNews365 what he makes of the Briton's decision to join the famous Italian outfit, Verstappen voiced support for the 39-year-old.
“At the end of the day, someone wants to drive for Ferrari and especially someone like Lewis having achieved so much,” said Verstappen.
“If that's his dream and goal then [great]. We don't know the talks that they had at Mercedes [or] at Ferrari what has been promised, what they think is coming.
“So you can't give an honest assessment from our side, why you [would] make that decision. If he’s happy with that move, then he should go.
“I think it will look cool. I hope for them that it's going to be a success, but you don't know at the moment.”
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Verstappen not thinking about Ferrari switch
Verstappen is currently enjoying a period of success with Red Bull, having won three titles in a row with the Milton Keynes-based squad.
Despite there being a lure to Ferrari given its status as the most successful and historic team in F1 history, Verstappen admitted that he is not thinking of following in Hamilton's footsteps going forward.
“I don't want to sound disrespectful or whatever, I have a lot of respect for the Ferrari brand but I'm very happy where I'm at at the moment.
“I'm comfortable in the environment that I'm in, so for me it's not something that I'm looking for to change.
“But again, in my life also, what I've experienced so far, I never say never with things.
“But for me, it's not even in my in my head. It’s only F1, I want to do more things and then Formula 1 as well.”
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