Lewis Hamilton BOMBSHELL dropped as Ferrari tipped for........

Lewis Hamilton BOMBSHELL dropped as Ferrari tipped for……..read more

In a stunning revelation from Italian media, it has emerged that seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton held “secret meetings” with Ferrari engineers before his exit from Mercedes. The reports suggest that Hamilton, who will join Ferrari for the 2025 season, began preparing for his move even before officially leaving Mercedes, where he achieved most of his career success. Hamilton, who has won six of his seven world titles and 84 Grands Prix with Mercedes, has faced a challenging 2024 season, finishing seventh in the drivers’ championship. He struggled to maintain his usual form and ended the year behind teammate George Russell. However, despite this, he managed to end his nearly three-year winless streak with victories at Silverstone and Spa.

Heading into the 2025 season with Ferrari, Hamilton will join the team at a high point, as they narrowly missed the 2024 championship by just 11 points. The team’s resurgence offers Hamilton hope of competing for his elusive eighth world title before retirement. His departure from Mercedes marks the end of a 12-year partnership that produced unprecedented success for both driver and team. Over the past few weeks, Mercedes personnel have paid tribute to Hamilton, celebrating the historic success of their collaboration on social media and through in-person visits.

Despite this farewell, Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari is now confirmed, though his debut with the team has been delayed. Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed that Hamilton is likely to make his first appearance with Ferrari in January 2025 during the Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. Interestingly, it now appears that Hamilton has been preparing for his Ferrari journey well ahead of time. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Hamilton secretly visited Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello while still racing for Mercedes. During these clandestine meetings, he connected with Ferrari engineers and began establishing a rapport with his new colleagues.

Hamilton’s proactive approach extended to his relationship with Ferrari’s star driver, Charles Leclerc, with whom he has reportedly communicated regularly. Additionally, Hamilton has started learning Italian to better integrate with his new team in Maranello and to strengthen his bond with the Italian workforce. This effort is in line with his determination to settle into Ferrari smoothly and make an impact from the outset of the 2025 season.

As Hamilton prepares to make the transition to Ferrari, there’s anticipation surrounding his ability to challenge for another title with the team, who will be aiming to build on their 2024 performance and potentially return to championship contention.