Charles Leclerc says the gap to Max Verstappen is smaller than he expected after setting the fastest time in qualifying but only ending up second at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen took pole position with the best lap in Q3, but Leclerc was the …
Charles Leclerc says the gap to Max Verstappen is smaller than he expected after setting the fastest time in qualifying but only ending up second at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Verstappen took pole position with the best lap in Q3, but Leclerc was the only driver not to improve in the final part of qualifying, and his Q2 effort was quicker than Verstappen’s pole lap. The Ferrari driver found the result bittersweet given the potential in his car, but is focused on what it says about the performance comparison with Verstappen.
“We could have done lots of things, but at the end we are P2 and three-tenths off,” Leclerc said in the media conference for the top three qualifiers. “I think it’s closer than what it looks on the timesheets, but this is a good thing. We were expecting Red Bull to have a bit more margin than what there was today, so we are a bit closer than what we thought. But the biggest question mark is obviously tomorrow in the race. I’m pretty sure they have a bit more margin than what we’ve seen today. But again, let’s wait and see.
“I think it is pretty in line with what we expected, and if anything it is a bit better than what we expected because, again, there was 0.2s or 0.3s in Q3 we could have found realistically in the car.”
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George Russell qualified third — 0.3s off Verstappen — but is less optimistic about the chasing pack’s chances in race trim.
“I agree with Charles — I think it was better than expected,” Russell said. “I think we all knew it was going to be very close between ourselves, Ferrari, Aston, McLaren and Checo [Perez], and I think the gap in qualifying today was probably slightly closer to Max than we expected.
“I think race pace is the important one and we are expecting probably 0.5s deficit — that’s what we thought after testing, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
With Verstappen raising his eyebrows at the claim, Russell asked the Dutchman: “You don’t agree?”
MV: “Half a second?!”
GR: “Is that too small?”
MV: “No, I think it’s way too big. But if you say that now then it is better tomorrow.”
George Russell says he has had drivers contacting him as well as team boss Toto Wolff in relation to the vacant Mercedes seat that will be left by Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton is joining Ferrari in 2025, bringing to an end his 12-year stint with …
George Russell says he has had drivers contacting him as well as team boss Toto Wolff in relation to the vacant Mercedes seat that will be left by Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton is joining Ferrari in 2025, bringing to an end his 12-year stint with Mercedes and leaving one of the most competitive seats on the grid available. With multiple drivers also out of contract at the end of this season, Russell says he’s willing to be paired with anyone and has been receiving calls and messages himself as well as his team principal.
“It’s going to be an interesting few months to see what happens,” Russell said. “From my side, I’ve been teammates with arguably the greatest driver of all time for the past two years, and I’ve got no concerns at all who lines up alongside me. I want to be tested against the very best.
“I feel that’s what I’ve had the last two years. Whether it’s an experience driver or a young driver, I feel that personally I’m in a great position to help push the team forward and go into this next chapter for the team.
“I think for any team, it’s good to have harmony between the drivers, because that trickles down to all of the engineers and the whole team. But ultimately the decision is with Toto and the board.
“We’ve already had conversations — I’ve been with Toto a lot this winter, so seeing the drivers’ names pop up on the telephone is quite funny; and even on my phone as well, had quite a few phone calls and text messages.
“It’s been quite interesting. But as a team, we’re in a really good opportunity and position to go into this next chapter, to have so much success with Lewis and Mercedes, and [go] onto the next.”
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Whoever joins Russell is likely to still be chasing Red Bull according to the 26-year-old, saying Red Bull is “100%” the favorite even after just one day of pre-season testing.
“It (the W15) does feel a step in the right direction, but there’s no hiding that our competitors have also done a really great job. We know we had a mountain to climb with the performance Red Bull showed last year, for anybody to overcome that gap was a huge test. Definitely the car is feeling nicer to drive, but ultimately it’s down to the lap times.
“We still haven’t seen truly yet where everybody is falling out. But Red Bull seem to have done a really great job again, and they’re no doubt favorites.”
George Russell says the Mercedes W15 is nicer to drive than the 2023 car after completing solid mileage during the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. When launching the 2024 design, Mercedes put an emphasis on making the car less …
George Russell says the Mercedes W15 is nicer to drive than the 2023 car after completing solid mileage during the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
When launching the 2024 design, Mercedes put an emphasis on making the car less challenging for the drivers, with a focus on improving the troublesome rear end of last year’s car. After completing 122 laps and setting a best time that was only 12th fastest on the leaderboard — some 2.7 seconds slower than Max Verstappen’s benchmark — Russell was feeling positive about the initial feedback from the car.
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“It was great to drive the W15 for the first time in anger today,” Russell said. “From hitting the ground, it felt like we had a good foundation to start from. We completed lots of laps and have plenty of data to go through tonight. We ended the day in a reasonably good spot, and we can build from here over the next two days.
“We will be focused on maximizing mileage for learning rather than chasing an optimum sweet spot with the car. Overall, the W15 does feel nicer to drive than last year’s car. We know that it’s not about the feeling, but the speed. Nevertheless, today was about learning and not about chasing performance.
“We’re focused on ourselves at this test, and it will only be next week where we see where we stack up against the others. It was a positive first day and I’m looking forward to being back in the car on Friday.”
Only Russell and Verstappen completed a full day of driving on the opening day of the test, with the rest of the grid opting to give a session to each of their drivers. Lewis Hamilton will take over duties from Russell on day two, with Mercedes then splitting running between the pair on the final day of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Lewis Hamilton says it “would be a dream” if he was able to finish his time at Mercedes on a high with a championship challenge in 2024. Mercedes launched its 2024 car – the W15 – on Wednesday, with Hamilton and teammate George Russell both carrying …
Lewis Hamilton says it “would be a dream” if he was able to finish his time at Mercedes on a high with a championship challenge in 2024.
Mercedes launched its 2024 car — the W15 — on Wednesday, with Hamilton and teammate George Russell both carrying out filming duties during a shakedown in wet conditions (pictured above). The car will be Hamilton’s last as a Mercedes driver before his switch to Ferrari, and he says he is determined to ensure he’s in the best possible shape to try and add to his record number of wins with the team.
“I feel the most motivated and focused I’ve ever been,” Hamilton said. “Every year you come back and you are like ‘I’m fitter than ever’ and all these different things. But I generally feel I put more work and more time and more focus into preparation this year.
“I never thought at this point in my life that I’d have hunger like I do right now. And to finish on a high with the team would be a dream. We’ve gone through a whole heap together, so to finish on a high, it would be the greatest honor to be able to help them get back to the top.”
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The seven-time world champion admits it has been a tough few weeks since informing Mercedes he would be leaving at the end of the season, having originally joined the team more than a decade ago.
“Obviously been emotional — it’s very surreal to be here given I came here in 2013,” he said. “So 11 years with the team, starting my 12th, and it is such a privilege to work with a group of people where you see the work they’re doing over the winter — we go through this process over the last couple of years — you see a car come together at the beginning of the year, it’s the most exciting part of the season really.
“You see everyone’s launches; this is the first time I’ve seen the car come together as a whole, but to know everything that’s underneath the hood — which people won’t get to see but George and I will get to experience on the track — is exciting.”
Mercedes has unveiled the W15 at Silverstone ahead of a shakedown for the new car, that features a fresh silver and black livery. The team switched from the iconic Mercedes silver to a black color scheme in 2020, and after a return to silver in 2022 …
Mercedes has unveiled the W15 at Silverstone ahead of a shakedown for the new car, that features a fresh silver and black livery.
The team switched from the iconic Mercedes silver to a black color scheme in 2020, and after a return to silver in 2022 last year’s car was also fully black. Now the two liveries have been combined on a car that technical director James Allison says is intended to be more driver-friendly after two tough years under the current regulations.
“The design of any car is an iterative process,” Allison said. “And a long one at that. ”It stretches back to last year. A new car enables the team to make bigger alterations that are not possible during the season. These are decisions that are taken during the preceding summer.
“A big focus has been on improving the previous car’s unpredictable rear axle. We have worked hard to ensure that both axles, but particularly the rear axle, retain better control of the tire than on the W14. There’s also been some housekeeping on areas in which we had room for improvement, including the DRS effect, and pit stop performance.
“We feel like we have had a good winter, but F1 is a relative game and only time will tell how big a step we’ve made. We’re focused on getting the most from the car we launch, but we are excited by the development race that will follow as the regulations are still young and opportunities abound.”
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Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will shake the car down on Wednesday at Silverstone, with the circuit split into two shorter configurations as McLaren does the same. With Hamilton set to join Ferrari in 2025, team principal Toto Wolff says the target is to move clear of the pack chasing Red Bull this year.
“A very busy winter — obviously it’s going to be our last season with Lewis so we are keen on bringing a really quick car, and then in the factory hard-working to deliver the product which we shall see today how it goes,” Wolff said.
“We got it wrong with the new regulations but when we are looking back in 10 years — or even longer — and we’re going to read that we finished first eight times in a row and then third and second in the constructors’, it will look like it was a respectable result and wasn’t so bad. But this is not counting another team and another driver winning most of the races.
“So our aim is to consolidate our position towards Ferrari and McLaren, sometimes Aston Martin, and be at the forward part of that group, at the same time as trying to race at the very front. This is our aim. We are determined to do so, and at the same time we know how difficult it is because you’re a step behind your main competitor that has gotten it right straight from the get go, but we love the challenge and that is why we are all so eager to see the car finally driving.”
Wolff believes Mercedes has the facilities and personnel to close in on Red Bull with the W15, given the lessons learned from its previous cars.
“Most important is that you look inwards. What is it that we got wrong? Why did the virtual world not correlate with the real world?” he said. “I think we’ve found some clues, we went in this direction, we tried to eliminate as many variables as possible, and the buzz that is in the company is something that I haven’t seen for so many years.
“We know it’s difficult. We know it’s a big mountain to climb because if a team is far ahead — like the Red Bull was last year — that’s not easy. But we have a superb driver combination, hopefully a fast car, the best people in the factory that are giving it all in order to succeed, and I think there are some very good ingredients to be back at the front again.”
Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari in 2025 sent shockwaves through Formula 1 last week, and the ripples are still being felt far and wide. Not only is there massive anticipation as to what a Hamilton and Ferrari partnership is going to look …
Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari in 2025 sent shockwaves through Formula 1 last week, and the ripples are still being felt far and wide.
Not only is there massive anticipation as to what a Hamilton and Ferrari partnership is going to look like next year, but there’s the knock-on impact on the team he’s leaving, as well as the driver that he is replacing.
For Mercedes, it’s a strangely familiar situation. When Nico Rosberg stunned the team by opting to retire with immediate effect after becoming world champion in 2016, it suddenly had a highly-coveted seat that nobody had expected to be available.
The same is true now, although with two clear differences. One, the seat isn’t quite as valuable as it was when Mercedes was dominating so much, with Red Bull now the clear best car. And two, there’s a lot more time to work out who Mercedes wants to select, and a huge number of drivers out of contract and therefore available to join.
Back in 2016, the driver market had already played out and there were very few current race drivers definitely free to be signed that Mercedes would have wanted. It had to come to an agreement with Williams to secure Valtteri Bottas, while Williams in turn needed to secure the agreement of Felipe Massa to come out of retirement.
This time around, only Max Verstappen and the Ferrari (yes, by that I include Hamilton in 2025) and McLaren drivers are under contract. George Russell obviously is too but in a Mercedes seat, with the remaining 14 drivers awaiting their next deal. That means there are so many potential candidates to be Hamilton’s replacement.
Within those are varying types of driver, and Toto Wolff admits he’s looking forward to working out which direction to head in next alongside Russell.
“Of course with all the Lewis discussion something that has not been talked enough is George,” Wolff said. “George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team. He’s of the generation of Lando [Norris] and [Charles] Leclerc and some of the others, and I couldn’t wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that.
“So we have such a solid foundation, such a quick and talented and intelligent guy in the car, that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, the second seat. That’s not something I want to be rushed in.
“I guess that a few contracts have been signed a few weeks ago that we could have looked at, that could have been interesting, but the timing here bit us a bit. But in a way I always like change because change provides opportunity and in the same way we’ve embraced the Nico situation – and that was equally from one moment to the other unexpected – I’m really looking forward in taking the right decisions for the team, together with my colleagues, in who’s going to be in the seat next year, and maybe it’s a chance to do something bold.”
If Mercedes wants to pair Russell with someone of a similar generation who needs a chance to try and prove themselves in a front-running seat again, then Alex Albon likely tops that list. Albon’s time at Williams has been hugely impressive and he has evolved into a team leader who is able to consistently deliver under pressure for a team that only gets a select few chances for strong results.
Alex Albon could be an option for Mercedes, despite being under contract. Jake Grant/Motorsport Images
Albon is 27 but has only made 81 grand prix starts, compared to another clear option in the form of Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard has another 100 starts over Albon and has proven himself in race-winning machinery, offering a very solid all-round option for Mercedes and great experience in terms of race starts and teams driven for – Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren and Ferrari – all before he’s even turned 30.
That should make Sainz one of the frontrunners for the Mercedes seat, but also any other vacancy aside from perhaps Red Bull given his history with Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso. A seat swap with Hamilton would certainly make sense, but given the quality of some of the other candidates he’s part of a fierce battle for the drive.
His fellow Spaniard could well be a bold option that Wolff speaks of. Fernando Alonso has proven at Aston Martin that he’s lost none of his skills as he moves further into his forties, and has been a supporter of Russell’s for many years. Their strong relationship make an Alonso-Mercedes partnership far more conceivable, especially as it would be the closest thing in terms of pairing one of the best drivers with one of the most successful teams as Hamilton and Ferrari.
There’s another attractive aspect to opting for Alonso, as a similarly short-term deal to the one Hamilton signed would buy a bit of time to analyze the complete opposite end of the spectrum in Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The Italian youngster is a name you might well have heard of by now, having been part of the Mercedes set-up since he was 11, and sensational in karts before also winning two Formula 4 title last year. Mercedes is so excited by his potential that he has skipped Formula 3 completely to race for Prema in Formula 2, and how he fares will be fascinating to watch.
A strong year only furthers the feeling that Antonelli will be in F1 sooner rather than later, while a title-contending one might just put him in the frame for a Mercedes drive himself. Mercedes opted to blood Russell at Williams for a number of seasons but it didn’t have an immediate vacancy like it does for 2025, and was fighting for titles.
Wolff insisted he “would rather not start any speculation about Kimi going into F1 at this stage” when asked about the potential of Antonelli being the bold choice he speaks of, but had been offered the opportunity to say it’s too soon and declined to do so.
It’s just another option of many that cover pretty much every base that Mercedes wants. Reserve driver Mick Schumacher, former junior Esteban Ocon – there are numerous that the team has links to and good knowledge of, too.
That doesn’t play into the hands of Sainz so much in that he faces stiff competition despite the level of performance he can offer, and he’s now facing a situation where he is more likely to have to wait on Mercedes than the other way around.
It’s a seat that could come his way, but if not then he needs to be ready to react to the ripples Wolff’s decision will create, and realistically hope it’s not Antonelli who gets the nod in order to open up a space elsewhere.
Both the Mercedes seat and Sainz are highly attractive propositions, and surely someone is going to snap the two-time race winner up – with Audi long rumored to be suitors ahead of its entry in 2026 – but after Hamilton’s bombshell it’s now over to the team he’s departing to call the shots.
Toto Wolff admits he was surprised by the timing of Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari, saying that the seven-time world champion’s mind changed since the holidays. Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025 after activating a break clause in the …
Toto Wolff admits he was surprised by the timing of Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari, saying that the seven-time world champion’s mind changed since the holidays.
Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025 after activating a break clause in the two-year contract he signed with Mercedes in the second part of last year. Team principal Wolff says he felt Hamilton was committed heading into the Christmas break but was then told on Wednesday morning over breakfast that the 39-year-old had opted to move on.
“When we re-signed the contract with Lewis we opted for shorter-term, so the events are not a surprise, but maybe the timing is,” Wolff said. “What happened is that we got together for coffee in my place in Oxford, with him returning to the factory [this week], and he said to me that he has decided to race for Ferrari in 2025. That was basically it and we had a good hour of conversation and this is where we are.
“I cannot tell you exactly; all I know is that we were very aligned when we went in to the Christmas period and I think we have said that in public and in the team. You need to ask Lewis why he changed his mind.
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“How he framed it to me is perfectly understandable — he needed a new challenge and he was looking for a different environment and this was maybe the last possibility to do something else.
“We are big boys — we knew that signing a short-term contract could be of benefit to both sides. We couldn’t commit for a longer period and he has taken the option to exit. So, in a way, we totally respect that you can change your mind in different circumstances, and switching to Ferrari maybe for the last peak in his career, maybe rolling the dice a bit, I can follow that decision.”
Expanding on the discussion, Wolff says he didn’t try to change Hamilton’s mind once he was informed of the decision to leave, and that he was always aware of the allure of Ferrari.
“Yes, because every race driver dreams about being in a red overall and in the red car,” he conceded. “We’ve discussed it many times before that this would be exciting to do one day. But over the years we came to the conclusion that staying at Mercedes and finishing the legacy here is something that one can be proud of.
“But I never ignore the possibility of change — whether it’s Ferrari or another team — so this is what it is. The fact didn’t surprise me at all, maybe the timing; but I can understand where he was coming from and that was to protect the team’s interest going forward.”
Wolff is confident Mercedes continues to offer at least as much on the competition side as Ferrari does for Hamilton, but feels that ultimately the lure of driving a red car was too strong. Andy Hone/Motorsport Images
Wolff also insists Hamilton’s decision to leave is not a reflection on where Mercedes stands competitively, as he commits to winning more championships without his star driver.
“I think what he said is that he felt he needed change, and I can understand that. We have been together, I believe it was 12 years — I don’t know if any other driver has ever been that long with a team. We’ve had tremendous success, and we shared the opinion when we decided to sign that short-term contract that there may be opportunities for him and for us.
“Therefore, I think also one of the considerations was the opportunity to sign a longer-term contract with Ferrari and give it a really big go at the end of his career. We didn’t talk about whether the opportunity was better there or with us, because I don’t think you can say.
“At the end of the day, he is the most successful driver and we’ve had a sensational spell and journey together — that’s something that will go down in the history books and also in the Mercedes history books.
“But we’re the Mercedes Formula 1 team. We’re the best car brand in the world, a team with legacy and we want to finish this on a high in terms of his career. But I can promise you we will build another phase of success — more victories, more world championships in the years to come — and we will be looking back at this very, very good time with Lewis in the Mercedes.”
Sainz posted on social media after the news that Lewis Hamilton is set to replace him at Ferrari in 2025.
With the shocking news that Lewis Hamilton is joining Scuderia Ferrari from 2025 onward, another Formula 1 driver is currently left without a seat with the move.
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has been with the Prancing Horse since 2021, but with Hamilton’s arrival in 2025, he’ll be left without a drive as Hamilton teams with his current teammate Charles Leclerc — at least in theory. Sainz is certain to be a well-regarded driver in the free-agent market for F1, and he seemed to imply as such on social media Thursday.
Sainz made his own statement in the wake of the news, and while he (like Hamilton on the other end) made sure to stress that he’s still driving for Ferrari in 2024, he’ll definitely have some plans in F1 after that.
Here is what Sainz wrote on social media in wake of the news:
“Following today’s news, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024. We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the team and for the Tifosi all around the world. News about my future will be announced in due course.“
In his career at Ferrari, Sainz has won two races, netted 16 podium places and has scored 610.5 points.
There are a few options for Carlos Sainz in 2025, and he is sure to have suitors. Audi’s new F1 program taking over Sauber will be ready in 2026, and that could be an opportunity he can jump onto. There will be an opening at Mercedes with Hamilton gone, and additionally, many will be watching that second Red Bull seat currently occupied by Sergio Perez. All in all, Sainz is likely to find a suitor somewhere on the grid for 2025.
The news that shocked the motorsport world is now official — it’s Hammer Time in Maranello.
The Formula 1 world was shocked Thursday morning with news that F1 legend and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was set to make the jump to Scuderia Ferrari, and now, that news has been confirmed by both parties.
Both Ferrari and Mercedes have released statements confirming that Hamilton will race one more year with the Silver Arrows before heading to the Prancing Horse in 2025. Hamilton is set to replace Carlos Sainz, who has been at Ferrari since 2021.
Both Hamilton and Mercedes principal Toto Wolff released statements on the matter, with neither mentioning Ferrari by name but regardless remaining appreciative for the time with Mercedes. Additionally, both stressed that while the move is set to be complete in 2025, Hamilton and Wolff will push together for the 2024 season.
Here is what Wolff had to say about the move, per the statement from Mercedes:
“In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”
And here is what Lewis Hamilton wrote, mirroring the statement in many ways:
“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
Ferrari, meanwhile, made a very succinct statement, though and interesting one — the team revealed on social media that it signed Hamilton to a “multi-year contract”, thus tying him down in Maranello for more than one year. How long exactly that is remains to be seen, but it means that this is not simply a retirement campaign for Hamilton — he’s here to compete.
Team Statement
Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/moEMqUgzXH
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team has options that are “exciting to contemplate” when it comes to replacing Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next year. Hamilton’s shock switch was confirmed on Thursday evening, with the seven-time world …
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team has options that are “exciting to contemplate” when it comes to replacing Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next year.
Hamilton’s shock switch was confirmed on Thursday evening, with the seven-time world champion activating a break clause in the two-year deal he signed in August to join Ferrari in 2025. Wolff says he knew that the partnership would have to end at some stage but that Mercedes has a number of possibilities to replace Hamilton.
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“In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history,” Wolff said.
“However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”
One such option could prove to be the driver Hamilton is replacing at Maranello, with Carlos Sainz on the market in 2025 and offering an experienced race winner. The Spaniard says his future plans will be announced at a later date.
“Following today’s news, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024,” Sainz said. “We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the team and for the tifosi all around the world.
“News about my future will be announced in due course.”
