2024 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[Mansell89]

I think that looks like a baiting headline to be fair- 2025 is what all the reputable sources have said so far and I’d be staggered if Lewis didn’t have one swan song season with Merc given how strong their relationship has been.

[214270]

He was just in the factory getting a seat fitting? That’s gotta be nonsense about ‘24, SAI still has a contract, no?

[f1jcw]

I think that looks like a baiting headline to be fair- 2025 is what all the reputable sources have said so far and I’d be staggered if Lewis didn’t have one swan song season with Merc given how strong their relationship has been.

For Lewis to go in for 2024 waste of time seat sittings, where does Sainz go?
Striaght swap for 1 year?

To messy in such a short period of time.

[Venturiation]

He was just in the factory getting a seat fitting? That’s gotta be nonsense about ‘24, SAI still has a contract, no?

Something happened when he saw the W15 in the simulator

[Luscion]

I'm very very interested in what has
caused Lewis to leave a team he said he never would after 10 years

[Cs98]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

[Luscion]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

Not sure if the W15 is at play here, this deal would have had to been in play for quite some time and iirc Lewis only got into the sim to test the final car two days ago as well as a seat fit. I do wonder how long exactly this was in the making as there were rumors last year about Fred wanting Lewis and the fact that Lewis met with Elkann in Monaco.

[Mansell89]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

I dunno man- I think this is with one eye on 2026 isn’t it? Think about it- he joined Merc in 2013 final year of regs ahead of their 2014 hybrid project.

Clearly he fancies the Ferrari adventure- nothing to say that he may not yet sign off from Mercedes with an 8th WDC- it would be some swansong!

[Cs98]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

I dunno man- I think this is with one eye on 2026 isn’t it? Think about it- he joined Merc in 2013 final year of regs ahead of their 2014 hybrid project.

Clearly he fancies the Ferrari adventure- nothing to say that he may not yet sign off from Mercedes with an 8th WDC- it would be some swansong!

He's 39, a bit late in the game to be looking at winning 3 seasons ahead. He needs to win here and now, and if there was an opportunity to do that no way would he leave. He probably feels the chances are very low at Merc, and fancies a shot at fulfilling a childhood dream of driving for Ferrari (and making a boatload of money at the same time).

[Luscion]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

I dunno man- I think this is with one eye on 2026 isn’t it? Think about it- he joined Merc in 2013 final year of regs ahead of their 2014 hybrid project.

Clearly he fancies the Ferrari adventure- nothing to say that he may not yet sign off from Mercedes with an 8th WDC- it would be some swansong!

He's 39, a bit late in the game to be looking at winning 3 seasons ahead. He needs to win here and now, and if there was an opportunity to do that no way would he leave. He probably feels the chances are very low at Merc, and fancies a shot at fulfilling a childhood dream of driving for Ferrari (and making a boatload of money at the same time).

You say that but Alonso is 42, swapped to AM at 40, is still showing every indication he wants to fight for the title if they give him a car capable of doing it and imo still has the talent to do so

[Cs98]

I dunno man- I think this is with one eye on 2026 isn’t it? Think about it- he joined Merc in 2013 final year of regs ahead of their 2014 hybrid project.

Clearly he fancies the Ferrari adventure- nothing to say that he may not yet sign off from Mercedes with an 8th WDC- it would be some swansong!

He's 39, a bit late in the game to be looking at winning 3 seasons ahead. He needs to win here and now, and if there was an opportunity to do that no way would he leave. He probably feels the chances are very low at Merc, and fancies a shot at fulfilling a childhood dream of driving for Ferrari (and making a boatload of money at the same time).

You say that but Alonso is 42, swapped to AM at 40, is still showing every indication he wants to fight for the title if they give him a car capable of doing it and imo still has the talent to do so

From ALPINE (!!) who didn't want to give him a multi-year deal. Alonso moved up, Hamilton is moving down (judging by recent history and the fact Ferrari haven't won for 15 years) or at best sideways. If W15 (and by extension W16) were showing great promise, would he really be leaving now? And it's not like he will be going up against an easier teammate at Ferrari. Whatever way you slice it, it's not a good reflection on Merc's future cars.

[SiLo]

This feels like his last chance to get a fat contract from a top team. Ferrari will pay him whatever he wants because marketing, and probably give him a longer contract as well. Mercedes already have George who is only getting better, and likely don't want to pay his wages or sign such a long contract.

[Luscion]

He's 39, a bit late in the game to be looking at winning 3 seasons ahead. He needs to win here and now, and if there was an opportunity to do that no way would he leave. He probably feels the chances are very low at Merc, and fancies a shot at fulfilling a childhood dream of driving for Ferrari (and making a boatload of money at the same time).

You say that but Alonso is 42, swapped to AM at 40, is still showing every indication he wants to fight for the title if they give him a car capable of doing it and imo still has the talent to do so

From ALPINE (!!) who didn't want to give him a multi-year deal. Alonso moved up, Hamilton is moving down (judging by recent history and the fact Ferrari haven't won for 15 years) or at best sideways. If W15 (and by extension W16) were showing great promise, would he really be leaving now? And it's not like he will be going up against an easier teammate at Ferrari. Whatever way you slice it, it's not a good reflection on Merc's future cars.

I'm more so just commenting on the part about 39 being to late to be making decisions for himself years down the road, maybe I should have just quoted that part. if he still has the talent, he is a big asset to many teams on the grid

this deal would have been taking place for a while now, Lewis only got into the sim two days ago, so unless the sim run this week was what caused him to pull the trigger I don't think it's to do with the W15's performance, but I could be dead wrong

[chrisc90]

I’d have thought Lewis would have been a lot more active in the sun over winter - especially given a big new design change.

[MinMax]

Not exactly inspiring news for the 2024 season and the W15. Great for the sport as a whole, but would Ham be leaving if Merc were truly onto something with the new car?

I dunno man- I think this is with one eye on 2026 isn’t it? Think about it- he joined Merc in 2013 final year of regs ahead of their 2014 hybrid project.

Clearly he fancies the Ferrari adventure- nothing to say that he may not yet sign off from Mercedes with an 8th WDC- it would be some swansong!

The copium in me wants to belive this timeline.