The prospect of Lewis Hamilton donning the long-lasting Ferrari pink had been talked about for a few years, however the timing of final week’s announcement actually took everybody without warning, together with Daniel Ricciardo.
The Method 1 group was despatched reeling in early February when the bombshell information of Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to the Scuderia in 2025 turned official.
Sometimes, driver actions throughout the sport solidify and turn into public data in the course of the summer time break, providing a way of order and predictability.
However Hamilton’s change, confirmed mere weeks earlier than the 2024 season opener in Bahrain, threw a wrench into that custom.
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“Not shocked within the sense that, might I’ve ever seen him in pink? Sure,” commented Ricciardo, talking to RACER’s Chris Medland.
“I might see in his profession and the legacy piece and all of that, after all. And clearly, it’s staff, so he’s bought an opportunity of profitable there, for positive.
“However I used to be simply extra thrown by the timing. I feel.
“Clearly I don’t know the interior stuff that goes on there, so clearly there’s explanation why it bought introduced as early because it did. However that half was what threw me greater than him going to Ferrari.”
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The early announcement fueled hypothesis about inner components at Mercedes that prompted such an uncharacteristic transfer, leaving everybody questioning what triggered this deviation from the same old mid-season shuffle.
However the surprising occasion has left Mercedes in a novel place. Whereas dealing with the problem of discovering a alternative, the Brackley squad additionally gained an surprising benefit in keeping with Ricciardo.
“I have a look at Mercedes now, they’ve bought an entire 12 months to determine what they’re going to do,” he stated.
“And I assume of their place, they’re in no rush. In order that they’ll assess everybody, how they’re doing, the driving force market, no matter. So I assume for somebody like them, it’s in all probability place to be in.”
Because the mud settles on this seismic shift, Method 1 enters a interval of hypothesis and intrigue. With a serious seat emptiness created at Mercedes by Hamilton’s departure, and one other maybe set to open up at Purple Bull, the driving force market is certain to warmth up.
Whereas Ricciardo’s title is one which could be a reputation tossed round within the rumor mill, he stays targeted on the current.
“I’m on no account trying that far forward,” he stated. “On this a part of my profession, I feel trying far forward type of seems like one 12 months nearer to the top. So it’s extra motive for me to be current now and positively take it race by race.
“So yeah, foolish season, a part of me can be comfortable to not be in all these loopy issues, particularly this early within the season. So if the foolish season occurs with out me, I’m additionally OK with that proper now!”
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