F1 LIVE: Hamilton blocked from Ferrari dream as Red Bull change Horner investigation plans

Martin Brundle insists Lewis Hamilton will not be emotional leaving Mercedes.

Hamilton will leave the Silver Arrows next year to join Ferrari.

The 38-year-old insists he will be emotional departing after 11 years.

However, Brundle thinks Hamilton will instead be delighted at a change of scenery in a move that will benefit everyone.

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

“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.”

He added: “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.

“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.”