HOW F1 REACTED

RALF SCHUMACHER believes his nephew, Mick, could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025.

“Toto Wolff is clever enough, he always likes to grab young guys,” Schumacher said. “George Russell is strong enough to lead a team and I think it’s time to get a new driver on board.

“There’s some other drivers around like Carlos Sainz but I think he will end up at Audi eventually so that’s not an option. He still has a very young driver in his contract and we will see how he develops.

“Mick can have a chance, but they still have time.”

ONE-TIME world champion Damon Hill believes Hamilton might have written off his chances for an eighth title with

Mercedes, prompting him to chase a move to Ferrari.

Hill said: “If Lewis genuinely thought that an eighth title was guaranteed, or a good 50-50 chance, he would have stayed.

“I think he’s got to the point where he’s heard the music coming out of Mercedes for maybe a few too many seasons.

“He’s probably thinking, ‘What better way to do it than to drive for Ferrari? If it goes wrong then at least I’ve tried’.”

OSCAR PIASTRI reacted to the bombshell news on X.

The Aussie saw the funny side after returning from his morning run when he said: “Just been for a run. Have I missed anything?” FORMER F1 racer Martin Brundle said: “I’m so looking forward to this. We’ve asked him for years about it and he seemed nailed on at Merc for life, and always dismissive of moving.

“Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in scarlet, that’s a story.”

SKY analyst Karun Chandhok said: “I was trying to understand where’s the logic in a Ferrari move? Perhaps there isn’t any.

“Lewis has more money than he could ever spend, hasn’t won a race in over two years and maybe his heart wanted a new challenge.

“To win an eighth title in a Ferrari would be an incredible legacy!”