Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas has mentioned he expects the seven-time Components One world champion to be match for Ferrari when the British driver strikes to the Italian staff subsequent 12 months.

The change was introduced final week after Hamilton, 39, exercised a break clause in his new contract and signed for the game’s oldest, traditionally most profitable and most glamorous staff on a multiyear deal from the beginning of the 2025 season.

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“I by no means thought it could occur,” Bottas mentioned at a livery launch in London for his Sauber-run Stake F1 staff on Monday evening.

“I assumed in my thoughts he would keep at Mercedes, however that is Components One. Issues occur, and I feel that it is good for him as a result of he is clearly made the choice and it is a contemporary, new begin.

“It is a large transfer in F1, which goes to create some motion as effectively on the drivers’ marketplace for certain.”

Hamilton will be a part of Charles Leclerc, who has a long-term contract, at Ferrari — a staff that final gained a constructors’ championship in 2008.

Different a number of champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso have tried and did not win titles at Ferrari since Kimi Raikkonen was topped the staff’s most up-to-date driver’s champion in 2007.

Hamilton is the game’s most profitable driver of all time, with a report 103 wins, and Bottas mentioned he expects him to slot in effectively at a staff that’s now run by Frenchman Fred Vasseur — who labored with Hamilton in his junior profession.

“I feel he’ll. He is acquired a lot expertise of the game. He is handled many various folks within the sport, I feel there is no drawback on that,” Bottas mentioned.

“I am certain it should be fairly an thrilling challenge for him to attempt to get to the highest along with Ferrari.

“If anybody can do it, he can do it. … I feel after a couple of races already he’ll be effectively settled in after which straight on from there.”

Bottas’ personal future stays unsure, with the 34-year-old embarking on his twelfth season within the sport. He and Hamilton have been teammates at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, a interval that coincided with a interval of dominance for the staff.

The Finn has been more and more busy pursuing his pursuits outdoors the game. He’s lively in biking and selling his wine, espresso and model of gin.

“For a very long time I’ve had totally different initiatives, and now I’ve actually discovered the appropriate setup when it comes to I’ve acquired just about all my passions lined,” he mentioned.

“Ultimately, which is hopefully not going to be for a lot of, a few years, these issues will for certain hold me busy [after F1], together with at all times driving one thing else little question.

“Something alcohol-related, previously I wasn’t allowed to do, however now, with the present contract, I can. I used to be form of blocked earlier than.”