‘I don’t buy it’: Martin Brundle rubbishes Lewis Hamilton claim

Formula 1 icon Martin Brundle has taken aim at remarks made by Lewis Hamilton regarding his bombshell move away from Mercedes.

Martin Brundle rubbishes Lewis Hamilton claim

Martin Brundle isn’t buying what Lewis Hamilton is trying to sell.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion shocked the world when he announced he would be leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari.

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After 11-years with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc in a move that stunned F1 fans.

But it’s one claim from Hamilton that Brundle isn’t buying.

Hamilton says leaving the team, that saw him win six out of his seven titles world titles, will be “emotional”.

Brundle believes the 39-year-old will be more than happy to depart the garage after the team struggled to keep pace the past few seasons.

“I don’t buy all of this, ‘It’s going to be emotional leaving’,” Brundle said on the Sky Sports F1 podcast.

“Lewis is a winning machine and that’s what he wants to do. It’s a good contract, he’ll be paid a lot of money, get a lot of love, and it will be one of global sport’s biggest stories in 2025.”

Hamilton is set to depart after 11 years. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Brundle says the move will benefit both teams. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Brundle says the bombshell departure will be a plus for both parties with George Russell to be elevated to the number one driver role for Mercedes.

“The teams are slightly disingenuous when they tell you about new contract signings, because they only tell you edited highlights that suit them. Clearly, they forgot to mention that Hamilton had an exit clause, which he has chosen to take very early indeed,” Brundle said.

“I see everybody’s got an opportunity here. George Russell has got the shiny confidence, the talent, confidence and speed, to pick up the mantle and be the number one driver. I have no doubt about that at all.

“I think it will energise Mercedes, losing Lewis, and it will be an opportunity for them to act in haste, repent at leisure. They can wait and see [on Hamilton’s replacement]. Why do they need to jump now?

“It will energise Ferrari, Charles Leclerc as well, and certainly us watching it. I don’t really see any downside there.”

Ferrari’s 2025 driver line-up.

The Hamilton shift send the Formula 1 rumour mill into overdrive as speculation ran rife over who would take the seat alongside Russell at Mercedes.

Current Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz was rumoured as a straight swap while Australian star Daniel Ricciardo was also touted by hopeful fans.

Those hopes were quickly put to bed by Red Bull Helmut Marko when he let slip the Aussie has a long-term agreement with the team.

F1 Insider reports Marko has told the publication: “Ricciardo still has a long-term contract and is not available (for Mercedes)”.

Ricciardo has made no attempt to hide his ambitions to take Sergio Perez’s seat as Red Bull’s second driver in 2025.