According to Lewis Hamilton, the day after he informed the Brackley-based Mercedes engineers that he was leaving for Ferrari, they all turned on him during a team paintballing session.
Prior to preseason testing in February 2024, the British player traded the Silver Arrows for Fred Vasseur’s team.
As Mercedes got ready for life without their top driver, this led to a protracted divorce.
Speaking about the split with TIME Magazine, Hamilton clarified that when the group went paintballing together, he was targeted in good faith. “They really lit me up,” he remarked.
“It hurt so much.” At one point, the seven-time world champion was even struck by a member of his own squad.
Hamilton still has a lot of affection for his former employers, even though 2024 has been a frustrating year for him. “There is no bad blood,” he added. Not at all. We took home numerous titles.
He also thinks they’ll soon be back in the running for the crown.
He went on to say, “They have everything they need to win world championships, and they will win more.”
“I am certain.” Hamilton has exclusively used Mercedes power units during his tenure with McLaren and the Silver Arrows.
The 40-year-old is currently going through a challenging learning curve after switching to Ferrari for 2025.
Hamilton also has little time to lose, as 2025 is predicted to be the most competitive season in Formula One in ten years.
The British driver has been working from early in the morning till late at night at the Bahrain International Circuit for preseason testing after completing a rigorous private testing program during the off-season.
Even though he recorded the quickest time of the Thursday morning session, the British athlete isn’t entirely happy with his adaptation as of yet.
He admitted on Friday, “I still feel that there’s quite a bit to come.”
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