Martin Brundle’s pre-season warnings about Lewis Hamilton’s ‘tetchy’ Mercedes farewell were very accurate

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Lewis Hamilton’s final season at Mercedes did not pan out as many had envisaged. In fact, events since February suggest his move to Ferrari may be in the best interests of both parties.

Hamilton confirmed before the season had even begun that he’d be leaving the Silver Arrows. It was a sensational move, but he had the option to depart at the end of 2024 under his contract.

Toto Wolff questioned Hamilton’s timing – he didn’t even wait until a wheel was turned – but his faith in Ferrari looks justified. They were a level above the fourth-place Brackley outfit in the penultimate year of the ruleset.

Hamilton rarely had the machinery to compete for wins. When the car was fast enough, he produced a masterful win at Silverstone to end a two-and-a-half-year drought, and he inherited 25 points in Belgium when George Russell was disqualified.

But for the most part, he’s been scrapping for sixth and seventh. The Mercedes car hasn’t simply been slow relative to the championship challengers – it’s been bewildering.

Hamilton grew increasingly desperate for the season to end. Had it not caused lasting damage to his relationship with the team, he may well have walked away early.

Martin Brundle knew Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with Mercedes would become strained

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 back in February before the season had even started, Martin Brundle made two predictions for Hamilton’s ‘farewell tour’. The first was that teammate Russell would benefit from his impending exit.

And sure enough, Russell produced perhaps his best season to date. He thrashed Hamilton so severely in qualifying that the 39-year-old was left questioning whether he was still fast.

Brundle also feared that there would be ‘tetchy’ moments between the team and their departing driver. Hamilton has on occasion implied, without saying so directly, that Russell is receiving preferential treatment.

Team principal Wolff has also angered some of Hamilton’s supporters with his comments. He’s spoken of the benefits of change, pointing out that Russell and Kimi Antonelli are just about older than Hamilton combined (44).

“I see Lewis and Mercedes having a bit of a farewell tour,” Brundle said.

“It will get tetchy from time to time but I think they are all adults; I don’t see a lot of acrimony there.

“But George will come out of Lewis’ shadow and I think it will do him the world of good, to be honest. I think the whole situation will energise Mercedes as well because they can get a young gun in and build for the future. That’s what I presume they’ll do for 2025, but who knows.”

Fernando Alonso was spot on about Lewis Hamilton joining Mercedes in 2012

If Hamilton struggles at Ferrari and it becomes clear that he’s in an inexorable decline, then his final year at Mercedes will be seen as the beginning of the end. But if he recovers at Maranello, it will be a mere footnote.

Hamilton has entered a ‘negative spiral’ but his upcoming transfer should allow him to reset. After he lost out to Russell, he faces another formidable opponent in Charles Leclerc.

His last move transformed his career. Together with Mercedes, he’s won a record 84 races and six world titles.

While many shared doubts, Fernando Alonso knew Hamilton was right to join Mercedes. He felt he needed to escape the McLaren environment, and perhaps he finds himself in the same position 12 years on.