Horner looking forward to Hamilton's Ferrari switch
11/10/2024 04:28 AM
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says he's looking forward to Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari next year, and expects that it will reignite the driver's rivalry with Max Verstappen.
Hamilton and Verstappen took the title battle to the last round in 2021 but Hamilton hasn't really been in the running since then with Verstappen running to emphatic victories in the drivers championship in 2022 and 2023.
Hamilton is currently just seventh in this year's standings, having slipped behind current team mate George Russell after a particularly poor time last week in Brazil.
But Horner expects his switch to Ferrari in 2025 will provide the kick-start that Hamilton needs to put him right back in the frame next year, although he says it will be a big challenge for the Briton.
"He's obviously coming out of a very comfortable environment," Horner told talkSPORT radio this week. "One that he knows very well over the last 10 years, more than 10 years, so that will be a change for him.
"He's obviously seen things that he's chosen to change teams for because he believes in the future of Ferrari, so that's going to be fascinating to see how that plays out," Horner commented.
He added that he was "interested to see how Lewis acclimatises to life at Ferrari" and that the decision to move has come at "the right time" to rejuvenate his fortunes.
Hamilton has won two races this year, with Russell also victorious in Austria, compared to five victories apiece for Ferrari and McLaren. Red Bull remains on top with a total of eight wins for Verstappen so far this season.
Asked if he was keeping a close eye on and felt encouraged by what was happening at Ferrari, Hamilton replied. "Of course.
"I'm very interested in my future," he told the media in Sao Paulo last weekend. "And so in that respect, keeping an eye, yeah, I'm watching everything that happens.
"It's been quite incredible to see the McLaren rise and then the Ferrari in the last few races," he continued. "To see their progress and just trying to keep an eye on everyone's car and what they're changing and what they're adding.
"Through the year, the beginning of the year, you know, if you look at somewhere like maybe China already, but the Red Bull was like a second ahead."
That's no longer the case. Although Verstappen romped to victory in the wet conditions last week, before that he had been without a win since Spain at the end of June.
That's all-but sealed this year's title in Verstappen's favour. Meanwhile Hamilton's problems over the sprint race and Grand Prix led to reports that he was seeking to step down early and miss the final three races of the year.
Those reports have since been denied by Mercedes, but there is no doubt that Hamilton is looking forward to his move to Maranello next year and a chance to embrace new challenges.
Hamilton's seat at Mercedes will be taken up by rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli who is currently competing n the Formula 2 championship.
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