Max Verstappen weighs in on Lewis Hamilton’s shock Ferrari F1 switch

Max Verstappen says he hopes Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari turns out to be a “success” as he gave his reaction to his great F1 rival’s shock move.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari on a multi-year deal in 2025 after deciding to activate a break clause in his current contract. The blockbuster switch shocked the F1 world and has blown the driver market wide open.

Verstappen spoke publicly for the first time about his 2021 title rival’s impending move at Red Bull’s launch of their 2024 car, the RB20, on Thursday.

“At the end of the day, if somebody wants to drive for Ferrari, and especially somebody like Lewis, whose achieved so much, if that’s his dream and goal… We don’t know the talks they had at Mercedes or Ferrari, what has been promised, if anything is coming,” Verstappen told media including Crash.net.

“So you can’t give an honest assessment from our side of why you make that decision. But if he is happy with that move then he should go. It will look cool and of course I hope for them that it will be a success. But we don’t know at the moment.”

Asked if he has ever had dreams about driving for Ferrari, Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, replied: “I don’t know. I don’t want to sound disrespectful or whatever. I have a lot of respect for the brand Ferrari, but I’m very happy where I’m at at the moment.

“I’m comfortable in the environment I’m in so it’s not something I’m looking to change or whatever. In my life, I know from experience with things you never say never, but with things [how they are] now, no, it’s not even in my head.

"But again, it’s only Formula 1 and I want to do more things than Formula 1 as well.”

The Dutchman heads into the upcoming 2024 campaign looking to win his fourth consecutive world championship.

Pre-season testing gets underway in Bahrain next week, ahead of the season-opening grand prix on March 2.