Hamilton’s explosive move to Maranello was announced on February 1 and the Briton has since focused on his 12th and final F1 season at Mercedes, with team principal Toto Wolff saying after the Australian Grand Prix that what spent this year at Ferrari was “not his priority today”, referring to his driver.
Yet there will come a time when Hamilton and Mercedes will have to face this situation, as the team seeks to hide all details regarding its next F1 car from its outgoing driver.
This won’t be a completely new situation for the seven-time world champion, but his move from McLaren to Mercedes was announced much later in the 2012 season, on September 28.
That’s why Hamilton is thinking about when he ‘should’ start talking to Ferrari and how that moment will happen.
“I think it will start with a conversation with Toto, because I don’t know how to navigate it,” said the Briton. “I’ve never been in this position before at this point in the year.
Toto Wolff, team principal and CEO of Mercedes-AMG, with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
“When I left McLaren it was towards the end of the season. I wasn’t able to go to Mercedes until December, I think, when I had my first seat fitted after the season was over. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through it.”
However, Hamilton has reaffirmed his willingness to prioritize his current campaign with the Silver Arrows, especially as he looks to end his unprecedented run of 49 races without a victory.
“For now, I want to finish on a high here,” he added. “So all my energy is devoted to this. Of course there is enthusiasm for the future. But right now we are going through a difficult time. This is my challenge.
“That’s where all my energy is going, to try to figure out how we can get back to the top. How can I work with the guys? How can I do better debriefs, give them better direction to fight again in front ?
“I’m a competitor first and foremost, so I want to win. Thinking about next year isn’t going to help me do that.”
