Mercedes’ track engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, shared his thoughts on Lewis Hamilton’s bold decision to join Ferrari, expressing his understanding of the move. Speaking to the BBC, Shovlin acknowledged that while Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes marks a significant change, it was a decision born from ambition and personal goals.
Shovlin said: “It’s a bold and ambitious decision, but we completely understand why he did it. Lewis wanted to race for longer, and we were not ready to make that long-term commitment. He saw an opportunity for a new chapter in his career with Ferrari, which is a big challenge for him.”
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is not just about racing but also about making an impact on the sport and pushing for greater cultural diversity within Formula 1. Shovlin emphasized that Hamilton’s influence extends beyond the racetrack, and that his voice in the sport is incredibly important. “Lewis has a very important voice around the world,” Shovlin noted. “That’s a big part of his goals, alongside winning races and chasing his eighth championship.”
Hamilton, who won six of his seven titles with Mercedes, reflected on his proudest achievements with the team. “We’ve struggled over the years, we’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but we’ve created the most successful partnership in history,” he said. “I’m really proud of the memories we’ve made together. We created history, and that’s something I’ll always cherish.”
Hamilton’s work with Mercedes wasn’t only on the track. He was instrumental in increasing cultural diversity within Formula 1. “We opened new horizons through collaboration and by engaging with partners. We worked to open doors to people from different backgrounds,” he explained.
With his move to Ferrari, Hamilton hopes to continue advocating for diversity in motorsport. “For Formula 1 to announce its step towards increasing cultural diversity, and for all the teams together with the FIA to support that, is something I’m really proud of being part of,” Hamilton added.
In the years ahead, Hamilton envisions a more inclusive sport, where kids from all backgrounds feel inspired to pursue careers in motorsport. “Hopefully, we will see a sport that increasingly reflects the outside world, where kids can dream of becoming part of F1, no matter where they’re from or what they look like.”
