Former Lewis Hamilton F1 team-mate warns of awkward Mercedes atmosphere

Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff at the 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix — Photo: © IMAGO

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Former Hamilton F1 team-mate warns of awkward Mercedes atmosphere

Hamilton's former team-mate believes it will be tense at Mercedes

Tyler Rowlinson

Saturday 3 February 2024 16:57

Jenson Button, a former team-mate of Lewis Hamilton, has warned that the Brit's impending move to Ferrari will make his last year at Mercedes somewhat awkward.

The world of F1 was stunned by reports that the seven-time world champion could be on the move to Maranello, and it was officially confirmed by Ferrari on Thursday that Hamilton will join the team for the 2025 season on a ‘multi-year contract.’

Hamilton will have the 2024 season with the Brackley-based team and when he does depart at the end of the year, there will be a seat vacant at Mercedes to partner George Russell, who is contracted to the team until 2025.

Speaking on the F1 Show with Sky Sports F1, Button believes that the atmosphere at Mercedes will not be easy and that they could potentially hold things back from Hamilton, while Russell looks ahead to his new team-mate.

Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025

He will race with Mercedes in 2024 before departing for Maranello

Button: Atmosphere at Mercedes won't be easy

“It’s not easy,” he said.

“What do they hold back from Lewis? I mean he knows the ins and outs of this team very well anyway. But when they get down to the nitty-gritty, are there going to be certain things that they hold back from Lewis? Possibly.

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“This definitely makes it an interesting year for us. Looking forward to 2025 already, we still have another year of Formula 1 to look forward to, but 2025, yeah, this is proper exciting.

“Buit for Lewis, this is a brave move and a lot of respect to him, because he’s not just going to another team, he’s going to Ferrari! He’s going to a team that speak Italian, a language he doesn’t know. A language that Charles does know very well. This is a biggie.”

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Mercedes Jenson Button