Ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes Lewis Hamilton’s determination to depart Mercedes for Ferrari is a “calculated threat”, however one which has “labored out” earlier than.
Hamilton formally joined Ferrari on January 1, 2025.
Hamilton had spent 12 years at Mercedes, profitable six of his seven titles with them.
The seven-time world champion will now possible end his F1 profession with the Scuderia.
It’s the second time in his F1 profession that Hamilton has made a bombshell transfer.
On the finish of 2012, Hamilton left McLaren, which have been title contenders on the time, for Mercedes, which have been successfully a midfield staff.
Assessing his determination to depart Mercedes following a turbulent remaining season with the staff, Chandhok advised the Sky F1 podcast: “I feel it was a punt as a result of how might you inform what the opposition was doing? He would clearly have a sense what was occurring at Mercedes.
“He’s talked about folks not essentially listening to what he’s saying and never totally taking onboard a few of his ideas of the place the vehicles ought to go.
“On reflection, earlier within the yr, he was speaking about a few of these conversations. Possibly that steered him into elsewhere the place they may hear a bit extra.”
“It’s labored out as soon as”
Hamilton’s final F1 staff transfer labored out higher than anybody might have imagined.
Instantly, Mercedes overtook McLaren in efficiency phrases.
Since Hamilton’s departure, McLaren have solely returned to the highest of F1 this yr, ending forward of Mercedes within the constructors’ championship.
Chandhok sees some parallels to Hamilton’s determination to depart McLaren, which was broadly criticised on the time.
“I used to be re-watching some interviews that you just [Ted Kravitz, who also appeared on the podcast] and Martin have been doing in the direction of the tip of 2012 with folks like Niki Lauda about Lewis coming to Mercedes,” he added.
“Even that was a little bit of a punt. He simply needed a change of atmosphere to depart McLaren and go elsewhere.
“I feel he does nevertheless it’s a calculated threat. It’s labored out as soon as. Let’s see if it occurs once more.”
