Lewis Hamilton endorses Mercedes move for Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton Endorses Mercedes' Pursuit of Max Verstappen
SILVERSTONE – Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton weighed in on rumors of Mercedes chasing Max Verstappen, expressing enthusiasm about his former team's prospects and firmly endorsing such a move for the reigning four-time champion.
Speculation surrounding Verstappen's potential switch to Mercedes intensified last week when Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff revealed the team was exploring the possibility of signing Verstappen in the coming years, potentially for 2026 or 2027. The idea has sparked intrigue up and down the paddock, and Hamilton, now with Ferrari after his dramatic offseason switch, added his voice to those closely watching the developing story.
Hamilton's Endorsement
Asked about Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes, Hamilton offered his unequivocal recommendation:
“Of course,” Hamilton told reporters ahead of the highly anticipated British Grand Prix. “If someone, anyone, was going to ask me about Mercedes, it’s an amazing team. Also with the passion, they’ve got great personnel, it’s a great factory, great environment to work in.
“I’ll be interested to see what happens,” he added, his curiosity underscoring just how significant such a move would be for the F1 landscape.
Hamilton Reflects on Red Bull
Despite his endorsement of Mercedes, Hamilton took a moment to praise Verstappen's current team, Red Bull, acknowledging their dominance in recent years. In doing so, he admitted to regretting past remarks he made about the Milton Keynes-based squad during his staunchly loyal years with Mercedes.
“I mean, he’s coming from a great team, and I think many, many years ago I was asked [about Red Bull],” Hamilton recalled. “I think I was just so diehard Mercedes at the time, and I remember saying something about Red Bull being only a drinks company.
“I always regretted it because I was just saying that because Mercedes at the time was just great. I was really just trying to gee up my team, but the truth is Red Bull have been an incredible team.
“There’s so many people there that are exceptional, and they’ve dominated for years,” Hamilton said, offering a rare moment of reflection and acknowledgment in the competitive world of F1.
Preparing for Silverstone
For Hamilton, all eyes now turn to Silverstone, where he boasts an enviable record of 12 consecutive podium finishes. However, since his high-profile move to Ferrari at the start of the season, podiums have proven elusive, with Hamilton failing to crack the top three in 11 races so far this season.
Speaking on his hopes for his home race, Hamilton remained optimistic, buoyed by the magic and energy that comes with racing at Silverstone.
“I’m hoping and praying, yes,” Hamilton said. “There’s always magic here in Silverstone, so I don’t really have to hope for that in the sense that the crowd is incredible.
“It’s a very, very, very special place. And it always provides a special race, one way or the other. But I’m hoping that weather, all sorts of things, can help us, because we’re obviously naturally not as strong as we used to be.”
As the lights go out at Silverstone, fans will undoubtedly be hoping for a revitalized Hamilton performance—one that could end his podium drought and remind the racing world why this track holds such a storied place in Formula 1 history.
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