'Big Risk': Perez Gives His Opinion On Hamilton's Move To Ferrari

F1
Friday, 16 February 2024 at 12:00
hamilton lewis mercedes latimages15
Sergio Perez shared his two cents on Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, saying it involves a big commitment and a significant risk.
Many people didn't want to believe it at first, but Lewis Hamilton is really going to leave his long-term team, Mercedes, to join Scuderia Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season.
The seven-time World Champion asserted it had always been a dream to drive for the scarlet. So, from 2025 onwards, he will be a teammate of Charles Leclerc. Asked to comment on the move of the 39-year-old Mercedes F1 driver, Sergio Perez told Sky Sports:
"I think that's a big commitment, big risk in many ways. You know, joining a new team it's always a massive challenge because I think Charles is going to be really established at Ferrari at the time he comes in."
Even though Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of the sport, it was suggested that Leclerc would be a very good benchmark for him.
The 26-year-old Ferrari driver is considered the fastest driver in terms of outright one-lap performance, a World Champion in the making, and has been with Ferrari since the beginning of the season.
By the time the seven-time World Champion joins in, it will be Leclerc's seventh season with the Italian team, and that will give him an advantage as Hamilton will need some time to adjust.
On the other hand, Hamilton's goal might be to use the 2025 season as the "settle down" period in Scuderia so that when regulation change brings an opportunity in 2026, he will be fully prepared to take advantage of it. Perez added:
"There's also a massive regulation change in 2026, which is a good opportunity. But, there is always a big risk in changing teams, but I think he really wanted to do it."