Lewis Hamilton, the British driver for Mercedes AMG F1, expressed his belief that the ongoing tension within Red Bull will have a destabilizing effect on the Formula 1 champions. Hamilton drew a comparison to a similar environment he experienced during his time at McLaren. While Red Bull continued to dominate the last season, the focus has been on the investigation into team principal Christian Horner. Although Horner was cleared of allegations of misconduct, the situation has created uncertainty regarding Max Verstappen’s future with the team. Verstappen’s father, Jos, even suggested that Horner’s presence could potentially harm Red Bull. In addition, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has faced scrutiny for his alleged involvement in overturning a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at last season’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The same whistleblower also claimed that Ben Sulayem tried to prevent the approval of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit to host its first race. When asked about his surprise regarding these events, Hamilton acknowledged that while the focus on Red Bull and the FIA is unexpected, it is not entirely surprising.Despite Horner insisting that the team remains “united,” Hamilton acknowledges that recent events would have certainly shaken the ranks of Red Bull. The Mercedes driver recalls the “Spygate” scandal that occurred at McLaren during his debut season in Formula 1 in 2007, which had a negative impact on the entire team. Ron Dennis, who had brought Hamilton into F1, reduced his involvement in the team after Hamilton won his first title in 2008. McLaren has not reached the same level of success since then, and Dennis, who oversaw 17 championship wins from 1981, left the team under controversial circumstances in 2017. However, Hamilton had already left McLaren before that, as he was frustrated with the team’s inability to secure him a second title, leading to his successful move to Mercedes. Hamilton addressed the situation, drawing on his own experience at McLaren, where the team leader was being questioned and going through a tough time, which had an impact on everyone. A leader plays a crucial role in setting the tone and ensuring the team follows the sport’s core values and integrity. While other team members are equally important, the leader is key in determining the team’s ultimate fate.
