SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center:Lewis Hamilton faces awkward questions about Ferrari before Miami F1 race with Mercedes-AMG

MIAMI GARDENS,SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center Fla. — Lewis Hamilton’s looming transition to a new team offers some excitement for Formula One fans – once you get past the awkwardness.

Hamilton announced in February he’s leaving Mercedes-AMG Petronas – a team he has become synonymous with after winning seven F1 championships – to join Ferrari after the 2024 season.

Imagine LeBron James announcing he’s leaving the Lakers for the Knicks, or Patrick Mahomes leaving the Chiefs for the Cowboys – not for this season, but the season after.

Good for Hamilton making the announcement to avoid an endless sidestepping of rumors about which team he’ll join in 2025. But it’s the lingering elephant in the room, ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium, like it will be for the rest of the F1 year.

Hamilton remains encouraged to help Mercedes win despite his excitement to move on. He’s answering more questions about his new team than the old team that’s paying him. He even has to inform fans he can only sign “Mercedes caps, not Ferrari caps,” like he said during an event to market his non-alcoholic tequila, Almave, this week in Miami.

On Thursday, Hamilton fielded questions about Adrian Newey, lauded as the greatest car designer in F1, leaving Red Bull after this season, following two decades with the team. Newey’s cars have helped seven different drivers win 13 F1 titles. He helped Williams Racing own the 90s with five titles, and Red Bull win six titles since 2010.

And guess the rumored favorite for Newey next year? Ferrari.

Newey and Ferrari could help Hamilton compete for his record eighth F1 championship, and put Ferrari over the top. It could potentially also weaken Red Bull, which has seen Max Verstappen win 38 of the last 50 races.

Some F1 fans tune in for the start of a race, see Verstappen take the lead and go about their days. Verstappen has won so much, F1 broadcasts provide intrigue with other drives angling each other for 6^th or 7^th place.

Could a changing of the guard be on its way for F1 and aspiring fans?

F1 media made sure to pepper Hamilton about the possibilities, adding to the awkwardness, like he’s not racing in a Mercedes this week.

How much would you like Newey to join Ferrari? “Very much.”

How excited would you be to work with him? “Very.”

If you could give Ferrari a wish list for next season, would Newey be on the list? “If I had to do a list of people I’d want to work with, he’d absolutely be on top of it."

And even a curveball: Should Mercedes pursue Newey? “I have no idea if they are trying. I don’t know who is trying. I can’t tell you." The question seemed to bother Hamilton, understandably.

“I’ve never been in this situation before, so it’s a unique scenario,” Hamilton told USA TODAY Sports. “For one, I’m really excited about turning up and working with my guys. And then, I’m excited for the future at the same time. And also, in terms of how fans responded, it’s been great because I’m kinda mingling with fans from both teams.

“But right now, my heart is still with Mercedes, and I really, really want to continue to deliver and really lift them up. That’s not only my job, but my desire this year. As difficult as it’s been, we’ve still rallied together. I really hope the year gets better. I don’t want to say it can’t get worse, but I definitely think we’ll improve.”

Hamilton has 103 Formula One wins – all with Mercedes – but his last victory was in Saudi Arabia on Dec. 5, 2021. One race later in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton was edged by Verstappen in one of the most controversial finishes in recent memory that decided the 2021 title.

Hamilton’s reign as the sport’s best driver – after championships in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 – ended.

Meanwhile, F1 has belonged to Verstappen ever since. He’s won three straight championships and is looking for his third Miami win on Sunday.

Ferrari has been the only team to challenge Red Bull’s dominance since 2022 – albeit not much. They’ve won only six races in the last 50.

Hamilton has had five second-place finishes in 2022, and three in 2023. But he hasn’t finished better than seventh in his last eight races, dating back to last season.

So, you can see why Hamilton is eager to join Ferrari, and why Ferrari signed him.

But they must wait. No matter how awkward the rest of this F1 calendar pans out.

“I think it’s the idea that you can always improve," Hamilton said. "It’s the idea that there’s always better days up ahead."