Verstappen won't follow Hamilton's path: 'For me not necessarily, no'

Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari has been a hot topic during the Formula 1 car launches. From 2025, the Brit from Stevenage will drive for the Italian Scuderia. The Mercedes driver is a seven-time World Champion and is looking for his eighth. Max Verstappen understands Hamilton's choice.

Verstappen on Hamilton move

"Ultimately, of course you don't know all the ins and outs of what the conversations were at Mercedes, at Ferrari," Verstappen said on the issue during the day of the launch of the RB20, Red Bull Racing's new car for the upcoming F1 season. "So it's always very difficult to have an opinion on that at the end of the day."

Verstappen said he does understand Hamilton's choice. "And ultimately, if it's someone's dream to drive for Ferrari, then of course I also understand that you want to go there. Eventually," the Dutchman continued when speaking to GPblog and others. Verstappen doesn't feel like he would do the same if he was in Hamilton's position with seven titles.

Verstappen would not follow Hamilton

"No, not necessarily for me," he explained. Alpine driver Pierre Gasly knew early on that Hamilton was going to make the switch to Ferrari. Verstappen explained why Gasly knew so early on. "Pierre is good friends with Charles, so that's why," he concluded on the Hamilton subject. Whether Hamilton can make things difficult for Verstappen this season and next remains to be seen.