After Lewis Hamilton announced his intention to move to Ferrari for the upcoming season, Naomi Schiff alluded to possible issues that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton might face later in the season.
Despite having recently signed a multi-year contract, the Formula One world was shocked when 37-year-old Hamilton announced in February that he would be leaving Mercedes at the conclusion of the season to join Ferrari. After 11 seasons of incredible success with Mercedes, his departure will signal the end of an era.
Schiff, however, voiced her worries on the dynamics between Hamilton and his current squad going forward on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.
She noted: “It was evident in Monaco that Lewis was not going to outqualify George Russell for the remainder of the season based on some strange body language. Therefore, I’m not sure if there’s also a whole new psychological element that will emerge throughout the season with Lewis and the squad going through virtually a divorce.”
Schiff continued by talking about how Hamilton’s leaving might impact his participation with the team, implying that he would soon be left out of important conversations. “He’s going to start missing important meetings, that much is certain,” she said. New components: George will be the team’s choice in that regard, although it goes without saying that he will win the championship first.
However, a layer of doubt will be sown by all these kinds of things. “What game are they playing?” is a thought that crosses Lewis’s mind as well as the team’s, and Mercedes wonders if Lewis has checked out and is still on board.
“I am aware that Mercedes and Lewis have expressed a desire to conclude their relationship on a positive note. I believe that’s how they both truly feel.”
Hamilton has had a difficult season and, in an effort to end his Mercedes career with a flourish, he emphasized in a CBS interview last month how determined he is to turn things around.
“I think everyone on the team wants it to be a great year,” he remarked. Nobody has put in as much work as they have in the factory, if not more.
“Because I love this team so deeply, this entire trip has been really emotional for me. I’m not unhappy there, so I’m not leaving. My departure is not due to problems in my relationship.
“I have loved Mercedes since I was 13 years old. I adore the folks. They have supported me through good times and bad. Thus, the transition is undoubtedly peculiar at the moment.
