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Stake F1 driver Zhou Guanyu says he “knew” Lewis Hamilton “was signing” with Ferrari, even before the news broke, but he “didn’t tell anyone”.
During Stake F1’s 2024 car launch, Zhou Guanyu surprisingly said he knew Lewis Hamilton was signing with Ferrari, even before the move was publicly announced.
Zhou revealed this when he was asked about the reaction this news garnered in China.
“I didn’t check that much [the reaction to Hamilton’s switch in China] but people probably didn’t believe it, or 90 per cent of the people [didn’t believe it] when rumours came out,” he told RacingNews365.
“I know Marc [Hynes, a part of Lewis’ management team], which is his kind of management together with me.
“I text him before it, so I knew he was signing, it was a fact. I didn’t tell anyone, but I was really shocked by the news.
“But I think the people back there [at Mercedes], it’s going to be even more shocking. I think as a driver, especially Lewis, I think he is seeing himself to retire as a Ferrari driver.
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“It’s obviously very nice to have. I don’t blame him for having this kind of feeling.”
Zhou added Lewis’ move is good for other drivers, as it will make a big splash in the drivers’ market.
“It’s very unexpected, most likely [I was] not expecting Lewis to retire as a Ferrari driver.
“People love to be retiring as a Ferrari driver, especially the World Champions, but he announced it at the beginning of this season, which is still another season to go with his team, which is certainly a shock.
“But exciting I guess for people like us just to understand so many things are changing in other teams,” the Chinese driver concluded.
