F1 great Lewis Hamilton kept his Ferrari move so quiet even his parents didn’t know

Formula 1 great Lewis Hamilton kept his Ferrari move so closely guarded that he didn’t even tell his parents until the day it was announced.

The British driver rocked the F1 world when it was announced on Feb. 1 he was joining the Italian manufacturer next year, despite signing a new contract with Mercedes last summer.

“I didn´t speak to anybody. I didn´t tell my parents till the day of it being announced. So, no one knew,” Hamilton told a BBC podcast. “I really wanted to do it for myself. Ultimately, I had to find out what would be the best for me.”

It then emerged that the two-year deal penned with Mercedes and announced last August was actually for one year with an option for a second year, which Hamilton did not take.

Hamilton informed Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff of his decision to leave only the day before over breakfast at Wolff´s home. They have become close friends over the years after Hamilton joined Mercedes from McLaren in 2013.

The 39-year-old Hamilton and Michael Schumacher have a record seven F1 titles each, and Hamilton is the outright leader with 103 race wins and 104 pole positions.

FILE - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco arrive to speak to media ahead of the Formula On Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, March 16, 2023. Lewis Hamilton's arrival will present "a huge opportunity" for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Hamilton is joining Ferrari for next season after driving for Mercedes since 2013. He will team up with Charles Leclerc at the Italian team after Carlos Sainz Jr. leaves. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
+1

FILE – Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco arrive to speak to media ahead of the Formula On Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, March 16, 2023. Lewis Hamilton’s arrival will present “a huge opportunity” for Ferrari next year but signing the seven-time Formula One champion involved some uncomfortable phone calls, team principal Fred Vasseur said Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. Hamilton is joining Ferrari for next season after driving for Mercedes since 2013. He will team up with Charles Leclerc at the Italian team after Carlos Sainz Jr. leaves. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Hamilton has spoken in the past of the lure of racing with Ferrari, where Schumacher won five of his world titles.

“I mean, the opportunity just popped up and I was like, `OK, I´ve got to think for a second,´” Hamilton said. “(But) I didn´t have a lot of time to think and I had to just go with my gut feeling and I decided to take the opportunity.”

Hamilton begins his last season with Mercedes on Saturday at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

His last win was at the Saudi Arabian GP in the penultimate race of the 2021 campaign, where Max Verstappen won the first of his three straight titles with Red Bull.

Related Posts

After a crucial turning point in contract talks, Ferrari have left fans with just one big question mark hanging over Fred Vasseur’s future — what exactly is behind this unexpected silence and how will it impact the team’s plans moving forward?

Ferrari strengthened their position sat second in the F1 constructors’ standings at the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, but this season has not achieved Fred Vasseur’s predictions. Team…

Oscar Piastri finally speaks out after devastating engine failure at Spa, raising serious questions about McLaren’s future in the championship – is the team falling apart under pressure, or can they bounce back from this catastrophic setback before the season slips away?

Inside the Drama of the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri’s Mysterious Engine Failure and What It Means for McLaren Welcome to F1 News Inside the F1….

Alon Aboutboul dead: Batman and Rambo star dies after being pulled from sea

Alon Aboutboul – who had roles in both The Dark Knight Rises and Rambo III – has died at the age of 60 after being pulled from…

JUST REVEALED! REAL REASON Max Verstappen is STAYING at Red Bull!

Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Commitment Seals Mercedes’ Hopes, but Off-Track Drama Lingers Mercedes’ hopes of prying Max Verstappen away from Red Bull have officially come to an…

Wynne Evans says Strictly told him ‘don’t trust anyone’ in shock statement

Wynne Evans, 53, known for the Go.Compare insurance advertisements, competed in the 20th anniversary series of the hit dancing programme with professional dancer Katya Jones Welsh opera…

Patrick Kielty and Cat Deeley’s ‘real reason’ for shock split after 13 years of marriage

This Morning presenter Cat Deeley and The Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty have announced their shock split after 13 years of marriage in a joint statement…