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F1 Round Up: Hamilton denies rumours of a Ferrari switch

In this F1 Round-up: Hamilton denies any move to Ferrari. Gasly's concerns over penalties have lessened, and Alonso looks forward to his renewed association with Honda.

F1 Round Up: Hamilton denies rumours of a Ferrari switch
Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamiltin 

Hamilton denies rumours of a Ferrari switch

In the clamour of the Monaco Grand Prix's media day, rumours suggesting Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes to Ferrari were put to rest by the seven-time World Champion himself.

Hamilton addressed the issue, stating, "The alleged £40-million-per-season offer from Ferrari is absolutely unfounded.
"We're in the process of discussing my future at Mercedes, and I fully expect to sign on the dotted line soon."

There were also whispers about whether Mercedes' W14 upgrade had any bearing on Hamilton's decision.

With a knowing smile, he said, "I know we've been through a rough patch, but this team has always shown resilience."
"Look at this upgrade, for instance. It speaks volumes about their tenacity."

Hamilton also hinted at his eagerness to put the upgrade through its paces, even though Monaco might not be the most suitable track for a thorough assessment.

Key Monaco Grand Prix media day stories

Drivers Thursday Press Conference at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix
Drivers Thursday Press Conference at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix

Media day was an eventful affair that gave us insights into the drivers’ perspectives and expectations. Let's focus on a few key storylines that emerged.

The Mercedes updates steal the spotlight

All eyes are on the eagerly-awaited Mercedes upgrade package, which appears to be introducing a significant shift in their design philosophy.

The W14, which has been following the zero-pod concept since the start of 2022, now seems to be adopting a more traditional design similar to Ferrari’s sidepod setup.

But the changes are not just cosmetic; the W14 also boasts an innovative new floor design.

“The upgrade, it will be difficult to see how it works at this kind of track but I’m hopeful that it puts us a little bit closer to these guys,” Hamilton shared his anticipation.

Alonso and Honda patch things up

The surprise announcement of Honda partnering with Aston Martin from 2026 onwards has led to unexpected reconciliation talks between Honda and Fernando Alonso, whose relationship had soured after their stint at McLaren.

Alonso seemed rather positive about the prospects of this union, asserting that there will be "no problem at all" for him to race with Honda again.

He lauded Honda's performance, saying they've proven to have a competitive package that won championships in 2021 and 2022.

However, he expressed some uncertainty about his own future, saying, “I don’t know what I will do in 2026, I would lie if I told you that I know right now for sure."

Aston Martin's ambitions

Mike Krack, the team boss at Aston Martin, echoed Alonso’s sentiments about Honda, while also leaving the door open for the Spaniard to possibly race a Honda-powered F1 car again in the future.

"There’s no reason to think he won’t be with us in 2026. I cannot see one reason why that would not be [the case],” he expressed confidently.
Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe added, “The selection of drivers is up to the team to decide. So, if the team decides we’ll have Alonso as a driver again, we will have no objections whatsoever on him driving.”

Pierre Gasly breathes a sigh of relief

After six months of driving on thin ice due to the threat of a race ban after accumulating 10 penalty points, Pierre Gasly can now breathe a little easier.

Two of his penalty points were deducted in the days leading up to the Monaco Grand Prix.

He shared his relief by saying, “Obviously, it wasn’t an ideal situation to be in. But it’s obviously great to know that I got these two extra points after last weekend, and I won’t have to think about it as much.”

Verstappen reflects on Honda’s deal with Aston Martin

Max Verstappen arriving at the 2023 Monaco circuit-Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen arriving at the 2023 Monaco circuit-Red Bull Content Pool

The news of Honda's shift to Aston Martin in 2026 drew candid remarks from Max Verstappen, who called the situation "rather unfortunate for Red Bull."

Expressing his disappointment, Verstappen said, "It was hard to swallow Honda's decision to stop production initially."
"We had to react and set up our own engine division, and then Honda changed their minds."

Honda's unofficial role as an engine supplier, despite officially bowing out from F1 at the end of 2021, added layers of complexity to the situation.

Verstappen expressed his frustration, saying, "It's unfortunate that Honda decided to continue just as we had committed to building our engine. Timing is everything."

However, Verstappen didn't let his disappointment overshadow the positive relationship Red Bull shared with Honda.

He reflected, "While it's disappointing to see them join forces with Aston Martin, we look forward to our partnership with Ford from 2026."
He also tipped his hat towards Aston Martin, saying, "They're gaining a fantastic engine. We know the kind of power Honda can deliver."

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