Mercedes driver George Russell believes there is “no way” Lewis Hamilton would have left the Constructor for Ferrari based on the team’s current performances – but the F1 legend has already dismissed that theory.
Hamilton, 39, rocked the F1 world earlier this year by announcing his departure from Mercedes in favour of rivals Ferrari. He penned a deal which would see him leave the Silver Arrows, where he won six of his seven world championships, before the 2025 season.
The veteran had endured two seasons without a race win in 2022 and 2023 before making his decision. But midway through the 2024 campaign, Hamilton is now beginning to reap the rewards of an upgraded Mercedes W15 car.
He ended a 945-day winless streak stretching back to Saudi Arabia in 2021 at the British Grand Prix earlier this month, before securing third place in Hungary this weekend. That led his team-mate Russell to claim there was “no way” the veteran would have left if he had predicted Mercedes’ revival.
Speaking to Reuters ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell said:
“I don’t think he would have left if the team was performing like this. No way he would have left, for sure not.
“For 2026, the power unit’s looking really strong and everything we’re doing with the fuels is looking great and there’s a lot of optimism for us over the next couple of years. As tough as these last few years have been, it really feels like we’ve got the momentum with us now.”
Hamilton already addressed similar talk in June after claiming his first podium of the season. Asked if he had any regrets over his Ferrari switch after the Spanish Grand Prix, he adamantly said: “No, not at all.
“I love Mercedes. I have been with Mercedes since I was 13 and I will always be a fan and a supporter of them.
“My job right now is to work as hard as I can with the crew that I have to try and move and develop the car in the right direction. Whatever course and trajectory the team is on for next year, there are things I hopefully will have been a part of and I am proud of that.
“My job next year will be to start with the other team, and they are doing a great job. They have had a difficult couple of races but let’s not forget they had a race win in Monaco (last month).
“I don’t know what is wrong with their car and why they are in the position they are in. But it doesn’t make me second-guess my decision at all.”
Hamilton also clarified the reason behind his shock move beforehand by stating it was spurred on by a need to take up a new challenge, rather than growing frustrations towards the team. Yet he did highlight the importance of winning when doing so.
“I’m not leaving because I’m unhappy there,” he explained.
“I’m not leaving because of relationship issues They’ve been with me through thick and thin. So, it’s definitely a strange transition at the moment.
“We exist to win. And when you’re not winning, your perspective has to shift. And it’s then about chasing and it’s about improvement. It’s about coming together.
“How can we make improvements? How can we get back to where we want to be? And rallying everyone up. I actually really enjoy that experience. But, three years in? I’ve had enough of this! Let’s get back to where we belong.”
Mercedes are currently fourth in the constructors’ standings on 241 points while Ferrari are third on 322. The gap has been considerably lessened thanks to Hamilton’s stellar displays over the last four races, where he secured three podium finishes while Ferrari managed just one.
