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Mercedes technical director James Allison says the team was “prepared” to lose Lewis Hamilton, or otherwise it would not have allowed him to walk away from the second year of the contract extension he signed last season.
Mercedes technical director James Allison admitted he was not “massively” surprised at Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave the team, but was caught off-guard by the timing of the decision. Hamilton chose to cut short his extension with Mercedes and will join Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season, after informing Mercedes during pre-season. Many were shocked by the move as they expected Hamilton to end his career with Mercedes, but Allison, having insider knowledge, found the move not “unpredictable.” Despite the surprise, Allison praised Hamilton’s skills and performance, labeling him the best racing car driver ever, and reflected on the moments of magic Hamilton produced on the track. Allison, who joined Mercedes in 2017 after successful stints at Ferrari and Renault, worked closely with Hamilton during his time at the team.
