F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Move To Ferrari "Better Than Netflix" According To Red Bull Insider
Lewis Hamilton's upcoming leap to Ferrari has been hailed as a milestone moment for Formula 1, eclipsing even the drama of the Netflix series 'Drive to Survive', according to Red Bull's Helmut Marko. This significant change, set for the 2025 season, marks a historic shift within the sport.
Key Takeaways:
- Lewis Hamilton's switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season is deemed the most pivotal driver transfer in F1 history.
- Red Bull's Helmut Marko views this move as a potential weakening for Mercedes while its impact on Ferrari's performance is yet to be determined.
- Marko believes Hamilton's move to Ferrari will have a more substantial effect on F1's popularity and growth than the Netflix series 'Drive to Survive'.
Lewis Hamilton is set to don Ferrari red in 2025, exiting the Mercedes team where he has spent a significant part of his career. This change represents not just a new chapter for Hamilton but also a pivotal moment for the sport, stirring debates and speculations across the motorsport community.
Helmut Marko, an influential figure within the Red Bull Racing team, has shared his insights, suggesting that the timing and implications of Hamilton's move were unexpected. Reflecting on recent seasons where Mercedes faced challenges in keeping pace with rivals, Marko speculates that Hamilton's decision might be influenced by undisclosed factors, hinting at possible strategic insights.
"That took me completely by surprise, especially the timing," Marko admitted to oe24. “Although it is a sporting sensation."
He continued:
"You wonder how it could have happened. Mercedes was overtaken by Ferrari in the second half of the 2023 season and McLaren was also faster.
"Perhaps Hamilton has realised something that the outside world does not yet know."
Despite Hamilton's direct competition with Red Bull in previous seasons, particularly in the thrilling 2021 championship fight against Max Verstappen, Marko views the current scenario as one where Red Bull's position remains unaffected.
"It doesn't change anything for us, but I do see it as a weakening for Mercedes. And whether it makes Ferrari stronger remains to be seen.
"Overall, it has an incredible effect, right down to the share prices.
"It's great that something is happening.”
Marko also compares the buzz surrounding Hamilton's move to the success of Netflix's 'Drive to Survive', suggesting that this real-life F1 drama could enhance the sport's appeal more than the exaggerated show.
"Normally in such a situation you already think more about the new team," Marko added.
"The current team [Mercedes] can no longer involve him in major innovations to the car, because of course he would take it with him [to Ferrari].
"For the sport it's great, better than Netflix."
As the F1 community anticipates Hamilton's debut in Ferrari colours, the implications of this monumental shift have been widely discussed. From whether Mercedes will treat him equally this season to who will replace him at the Brackley squad in 2025, everything is currently up in the air.