The winter break was thrown into chaos at the beginning of this month as Lewis Hamilton sensationally signed for Scuderia Ferrari. The seven-time World Champion will be in the iconic red colours from 2025 onwards.
His former teammate and rival Fernando Alonso admitted that he did not find out until the following day as he was busy training in preparation for the new season that begins in less than three weeks from now in Bahrain.
“Yeah, I didn’t spend too much time [thinking about it]. I was training actually that day, so I missed all the stress from everybody. So I was just one day late on the news.
“I don’t know, probably it was a surprise. I would not lie. Not because of the change itself I think, it was just because from the outside it seemed like he was very linked with Mercedes and very loyal to them and things like that.
“It was a little bit unexpected, but I don’t know the reasons behind it, I don’t know anything. I don’t know the story, so it’s more a question for him.”
The 42-year-old Spaniard is expecting something similar to come through the 2024 winter break with so many drivers out of contract at the end of the campaign.
In fact, the two-time F1 World Champion is out of contract with Aston Martin at the end of this season as things stand at present.
“But yeah, I didn’t pay too much attention and probably next winter it’s going to be more of a theme. But because it’s still one year ahead, I didn’t spend much time thinking.”
In his first post on social media following the official announcement from Scuderia Ferrari that Hamilton would be heading to them next year, the British driver explained that was a childhood dream to drive for the iconic Italian brand one day.
However, Alonso questioned that, suggesting it wasn’t a dream of Hamilton’s this time last year or even in December.
“Yeah, I don’t know. It was not his childhood dream 12 months ago, no? Or two months ago, I guess, because it was a different dream, so nothing really to comment on.”
Ferrari has failed to win a Drivers’ Championship since 2007. Kimi Räikkönen won the title by a single point that season from the McLarens of Hamilton and Alonso.
They’ve had near misses during the last 17 years, particularly in 2010 and 2012 with the Spaniard.
Alonso believes Ferrari should be capable of going for the championship in the near future, and he thinks Hamilton might bring that extra bit of performance needed to finally get them over the line.
The 32-time Grand Prix winner also pointed to the fact Ferrari scored five poles after the summer break in 2023 as to why he can see them challenging for titles.
“I hope he enjoys the experience. I think it’s a very special team. But yeah, it is more special when you win. That’s the thing, you need to win.
“It’s a few years already that they have a very fast car and they were fighting for big things. Maybe Lewis can bring that extra [bit] to fight for the championship.
“As I said, the car is there. At the end of last year, even with a very dominant Red Bull car, Ferrari is still able to match the lap time and to be faster than them in most of the qualifying [sessions]. So I think the car should be fast enough.”
Hamilton driving for Ferrari F1 “was not his childhood dream two months ago” — Alonso
