Defending the startling development that left Formula 1 in shock, Lewis Hamilton said moving to Ferrari for 2025 fulfils a “childhood dream”. The comment did not go down without a share of skepticism, notably from Fernando Alonso, who questioned the authenticity of Hamilton’s claim with a wry smile, saying, “It was not his childhood dream 12 months ago, no? Or two months ago, I guess, it was a different dream.”
Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate and the man who once went wheel-to-wheel with him for the championship in an acrimonious struggle, has stepped forward to defend Hamilton’s motivations. Speaking to the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, Rosberg expressed his initial surprise at the news but acknowledged the deep allure that Ferrari holds for many drivers in the sport. “It surprised me,” Rosberg admitted, before adding, “But if you look at the big picture, there are two legendary teams that everyone wants to drive for – Ferrari and Mercedes. So I can understand that he is fulfilling a personal dream with this.”
The speculation inevitably turned towards who might claim Hamilton’s soon-to-be-vacant seat at Mercedes, with some eyes looking towards Rosberg himself as a potential, albeit unlikely, candidate. However, Rosberg quickly dispelled any such notions. “It’s over,” he stated firmly, closing the door on any speculation of a return to F1 racing. He highlighted the immense preparation required to compete at the highest level again, saying, “I’d have to prepare intensively for a whole year just to train the synapses in the brain again.”
Reflecting on the past, Rosberg drew a parallel with Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010, a comeback that did not result in additional wins to add to his record tally. While some might argue Schumacher regretted his decision, Rosberg disagrees, suggesting Schumacher valued the competition and the challenge. “I think if we had the opportunity to ask him about it, he wouldn’t regret the comeback,” Rosberg said. “Racing again, the duels, that pushed him on enormously. He looked noticeably rejuvenated from that time.”
