Hamilton is set to join Ferrari at the end of this season, marking the end of his long association with Mercedes. Throughout his career, he has achieved an impressive record of 103 wins, 104 pole positions, and seven F1 world championships, all powered by Mercedes.
The early announcement on February 1, 2024, has sparked significant attention and headlines, creating a highly visible season of separation for Hamilton from Mercedes. In the midst of this, George Russell will take on the role of the team’s number one driver, eagerly awaiting the announcement of his new teammate.
During this period, Hamilton has raised concerns about the possibility of receiving unequal equipment compared to Russell. This speculation arises as their prolonged separation process unfolds throughout the season. Not surprisingly, social media trolls have taken this debate to extreme levels of absurdity and toxicity, with an anonymous sender even suggesting that the Mercedes team is intentionally sabotaging the British driver.
However, former F1 driver Herbert has rejected these claims, stating that such ideas are unfounded. When a driver announces their departure, the team naturally focuses on the future driver. They may choose not to share certain data about new developments with the departing driver, as they do not want this information to potentially benefit their future competitors, such as Ferrari. Therefore, it is normal for Hamilton to be unaware of certain details.
Herbert further emphasized that manipulating a driver’s car to negatively impact their performance would be counterproductive to the team’s success in the constructors’ championship, as it directly affects the points they earn and the associated financial gains.
The decision for Hamilton to leave Mercedes was a surprise to the entire F1 community, especially to Mercedes, who expected the 39-year-old Brit to continue his career with them for another two or three years before passing the baton to Russell. However, it seems that from 2025, young talent Kimi Antonelli will likely race for Merc, making Russell the de facto leader of the team, regardless of any claims of equality. This is mainly due to Russell’s experience compared to a rookie who will need to integrate into the team and prove himself.
Regardless of whom Mercedes chooses to hire, Carlos Sainz being a safe and sensible option, it remains Russell’s responsibility to fill the void left by Hamilton. The question remains: is he prepared for this challenge?
Herbert expressed that George is developing and it is the ideal time for him. With Lewis’s departure, Mercedes essentially becomes George’s team. He possesses all the necessary components to propel it forward.
On Friday, Hamilton dismissed claims that his car is being sabotaged and that his mind is already focused on Maranello, as he finished the first day of practice for the Spanish Grand Prix as the fastest driver. However, the question remains: has Lewis mentally disconnected from Mercedes?
Herbert speculated that there may be some truth to this idea. After spending so much time at Mercedes and facing difficulties in the past two years, Hamilton made the decision to seek a fresh start and restart at Ferrari. Perhaps we will witness a resurgence of the old Lewis when he joins Ferrari.
Despite the general consensus that Mercedes is on the right track after their performance in Canada, Herbert is skeptical. He believes that they may find themselves in a similar situation in Spain, like in the past two years, finishing in fifth or sixth place. This prediction is for the next race in Barcelona.
For now, Hamilton is setting the pace in Spain on a circuit that both teams and drivers are familiar with, which will likely provide an accurate representation of the F1 hierarchy halfway through this season. Of course, this depends on the weather remaining dry in Montmeló.
© 2024
Portugal conquers the Eurocup in an exciting victory
Portugal won the Eurocup in an exciting final against France. The Portuguese team showed an incredible performance throughout the tournament and proved to be worthy of the title. With a decisive goal from Cristiano Ronaldo in the second half, Portugal secured a 1-0 victory.
The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London and was a tightly contested match from the beginning. Both teams had several chances to score, but it was Portugal who took advantage of the opportunity. Ronaldo, the tournament’s top scorer, scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute, after a magnificent pass from Bernardo Silva.
France tried to react, but the Portuguese defense was impeccable. Rui Patrício, Portugal’s goalkeeper, made incredible saves and kept the score in favor of his team. In the end, Portugal became European champions for the second time in their history.
Portugal’s victory is a historic achievement for the country and Portuguese football. The team showed determination, skill, and team spirit throughout the tournament, and now they can celebrate the well-deserved title of Eurocup champions. Portuguese fans are celebrating and proud of their national team.
Congratulations to Portugal for winning the Eurocup!
