Lewis Hamilton responds to critics who ‘talk bullshit’ about his shock move to Ferrari… as he downplays Mercedes’ expectations ahead of Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at those who are “talking bullshit” about his decision to abandon Mercedes and join Ferrari from the start of next season.

The 39-year-old shocked the sport on the eve of the 2024 season by announcing his explosive departure from the team with which he won all but one of his seven world titles.

Results and performances so far this season suggest Hamilton’s decision was a wise one.

While Ferrari appears to be improving every week, cementing its place as Red Bull’s closest, if distant, title challenger, there appears to be no end in sight for Mercedes’ struggles after its worst start to the season. ‘team.

Heading into this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton clearly has no doubts about the change.

The 39-year-old shocked the sport by announcing his departure from long-term manufacturers Mercedes.

His decision could prove to be wise as he is currently languishing in ninth place in the drivers’ standings.

“I don’t feel like I need my decision to be justified. I know what’s good for me and that hasn’t changed since the moment I made the decision,” said Hamilton, who sits ninth in the drivers’ standings with just 10 points.

“I haven’t questioned it at any point and I’m not influenced by other people’s comments. Even today there are people who continue to call bullshit and this will continue for the rest of the world. year I’m going to have to do what I do.

“Only you can know what is good for you and it will be an exciting time for me.”

When asked what he meant by “people talk bullshit,” Hamilton replied, “Just read what’s out there.” »

It is believed that Hamilton’s comments could refer to his 14-word exchange with print journalists after the Japanese Grand Prix, during which the Briton was asked if he was jealous of Ferrari’s strong start to the season .

Hamilton will be 40 by the time he dons Ferrari’s famous red next season. But he will not be the oldest on the grid, this title belonging to Fernando Alonso, as things currently stand.

The Spaniard, a two-time world champion and former teammate of Hamilton, this week signed a new multi-year contract with Aston Martin, which will see him race until he is at least 45 years old.

“I never thought I would make it to my 40s. I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t race until I was 40,” Hamilton joked.

Although Hamilton will join Ferrari at 40, his appearance on the 2025 grid will not make him the oldest driver – that honor will go to Fernando Alonso (photo)

The Spaniard has announced a new contract with Aston Martin which will keep him in his seat for two more seasons.

“I think it’s such a crazy thing, life. I don’t feel like I’m almost 40, I feel like I’m still pretty young.

“It’s really positive because it means I’m not the oldest driver here… I’m the best! But Fernando is also one of the best drivers we’ve had in this sport, so the fact that he continues to be here and have the same output that he’s had just shows what’s possible.

“It just shows the new era of athletes and what the human body can do and continues to do if you feed it.”

“I’m going to be racing for a while longer, so it’s really good that he’s still here and going a little longer.”

For now, Hamilton’s focus remains solely on salvaging some of the positives from his final season with Mercedes.

No improvements have been made to the car in which Hamilton and teammate George Russell limped to ninth and seventh respectively two weeks ago at the Japanese Grand Prix.

These results place Mercedes in fourth place in the constructors’ championship, already 107 points behind powerful leader Red Bull.

Mercedes hoping for a boost after the Japanese Grand Prix, which saw Hamilton finish ninth

But Hamilton stressed that little had changed with the car ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

And while there was some optimism among drivers that the first Sprint race weekend of the season at a circuit hosting a race for the first time in five years could throw up some surprises, Hamilton seemed less optimistic.

“Nothing has changed with our car, so it will be the same car this weekend but we understand it a little better,” he explained.

“(In Japan) we made some improvements, so we took some back this weekend in a new direction. I think that if we went back we would have done things differently, that’s the benefit of hindsight and experience.

“So we’re trying to bring that here this weekend and implement some of the changes we might have made at Suzuka and hopefully that can bring us a bit of performance.”