Marko teases Mercedes: 'That's why Hamilton is leaving'

The 2024 season has not even started, but probably the biggest news of the F1 season has already arrived: Lewis Hamilton's switch from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025. Ferrari fans are ecstatic about the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time joining the team, who they hope will finally bring the Tifosi another world title.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing's external advisor, is also positive about the seven-time champion's transfer. "This is the best thing that could have happened to Formula 1 at the moment," said the Austrian in an interview with sport.de, who previously indicated that Mercedes will undoubtedly make an attempt to snare Max Verstappen as Hamilton's replacement.

Marko, incidentally, has some idea why Hamilton is choosing to leave Mercedes. Firstly, according to him, there is "the fascination of Ferrari". On the other hand, there is also a small sneer towards the German opponent: "Hamilton has lost faith in Mercedes."

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' team boss, and Frederic Vasseur (team boss at Ferrari) are good friends. Marko wonders how long, now that the latter has snatched the star driver from Wolff. Hamilton's move to the Scuderia will "strain" the friendly relationship between the two, Marko suspects. "Wolff has actually always supported Vasseur in Formula 1. And now this."

Incidentally, Wolff already indicated that the relationship with Vasseur will not be strained. The Austrian team boss said he understood Hamilton's move.