F1 News
Mercedes legend on Hamilton's 8th at Ferrari: 'Why shouldn’t it work out?'
Former Mercedes' Head of Motorsport activities, Norbert Haug, is sad to see Lewis Hamilton switch Mercedes' silver for Ferrari's red, with whom the German presums the Briton will see out the end to his F1 career. However he wishes his former driver the best and believes Hamilton could have another chance to win an 8th title, after the "stolen title" from 2021.
Haug developed a special relationship with former Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Given the seven-time world champion's loyalty to the German brand, the former Head of Motorsport activities for Mercedes was blindsided by the move to Ferrari. "It’s actually very sad for me, I have to say. I would never have thought that Lewis would switch again."
"I’ve really known him since he was 14 years old. There really is still a great relationship. I hadn’t seen him for years. When you’ve worked with people, with racing drivers, for so long, it’s like the first day, as if the last meeting was yesterday," the German added, before reminding the world of Hamilton's hunger for success.
"Anyone who thinks that he will give up at 40 and step on the gas less and work less intensively will be wrong. He will give everything [at Ferrari]," highlighting a constant strength of Hamilton's throughout his career in F1 which could result in the so far elusive record breaking title. "I absolutely trust him to deliver the maximum possible performance in the race. And if the car is good, why shouldn’t it work out with the eighth title?”
2021 was stolen? "There's no other way to put it"
During a controversial 2021 season where decisions went both ways for Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, as Max Verstappen threatened to take over F1's reign from Hamilton, the latter ended up losing the Drivers' crown on the last lap of the final round of the championship, something Haug still has a clear opinion on.
"The last few years [have been difficult] since the title we lost in 2021. And that really was a stolen title – there’s no other way to put it – due to the wrong safety car decision at the time," concluded the German.