Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has quipped that Lewis Hamilton‘s first sighting at Ferrari was like “seeing your divorced partner for the first time with a new friend”.
Hamilton’s much-anticipated venture with Ferrari commenced last week as he was present in Maranello to begin preparations for his debut campaign with his new team.
The week started with Hamilton creating a storm on social media as a photo outside Enzo Ferrari’s house in a three-piece suit logged over five million likes on Instagram.
Having met his team-mates and completed a seat fitting, droves of people watched Hamilton conduct his maiden outing in a Ferrari as he drove the 2023 car at Fiorano.
Hamilton expressed that the occasion realised a childhood “dream” that he will remember alongside the accolades that he accomplished during his time at Mercedes.
The Briton’s move, announced prior to the previous season even starting, has spelt an end to his long-serving ties with the German marque stretching back to when he was 13.
Wolff, who indicated that he has been in contact with his ex-long-time driver since, admitted it was a bizarre experience when he saw the pictures of Hamilton at Ferrari.
“Yeah, it’s a little bit like you divorce amicably, and it’s all good, and then you see your partner for the first time with a new friend,” Wolff told Sky Sports.
“But I’m really happy for him, and I told him that those pictures were iconic, that he made, that was so well curated, and no surprise with Lewis.”
Hamilton at Ferrari will be ‘box office’
Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner has endorsed Hamilton’s Ferrari switch, citing that F1’s most decorated driver and team together will be a blockbuster combination.
“I’ve seen some pictures, I think it suits him!” he said.
“Look, I think it is great for Formula 1. Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari… that really is box office. So I think it’s just another dynamic for this year that could be super exciting.”
Wolff excited about Antonelli’s F1 debut
Wolff had made Max Verstappen his leading target to replace Hamilton, but the Dutchman has remained at Red Bull despite talks between the two parties taking place.
That prompted Wolff to promote rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli to the seat alongside George Russell as Mercedes sets its sights on the upcoming regulation revamp in 2026.
And whilst the Italian has amassed almost 9000 kilometres in F1 cars courtesy of a rigorous testing programme, Wolff has warned that he has a steep learning curve.
“I think we are super excited by the new situation,” Wolff added. “We’ve had [a] fantastic 12 years with Lewis; George has shown superb performances in the last few years.
“Now with Kimi coming up, a young lion with a lot of talent and now he needs to learn.”
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