Former Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug has backed Lewis Hamilton to retrieve the “stolen” eighth Formula 1 he lost in 2021 during his stint with Ferrari.
With pre-season testing done and dusted, the F1 paddock is preparing to head to Australia next week to commence a 24-round calendar, Hamilton’s first with Ferrari.
The seven-time World Champion Hamilton, who left the Silver Arrows after 12 seasons together, will make his eagerly anticipated debut in red on the streets of Melbourne.
Haug, the erstwhile head of Mercedes’ motorsport activities, was involved in the British driver’s rise in the sport through the original McLaren-Mercedes engine partnership.
Toto Wolff, the current Mercedes team boss and CEO, replaced Haug once the 2012 season ended, but he was reacquainted with Hamilton at the driver’s farewell tour.
“It’s actually very sad for me, I have to say,” he told Sky Germany.
“I would never have thought that Lewis would switch again.
“I’ve really known him since he was 14 years old; there really is still a great relationship.
“I hadn’t seen him for years…and I don’t know.
“When you’ve worked with people, with racing drivers, for so long, it’s like the first day, as if the last meeting was yesterday.”
Haug blasts ‘wrong decision’ that cost Hamilton ‘21 title
But although Haug was disappointed to see Hamilton depart Mercedes, he has backed him to secure an elusive record-breaking eighth Drivers’ title at Ferrari.
“Anyone who thinks that he will give up at 40 and step on the gas less and work less intensively will be wrong,” he added.
“He will give everything [at Ferrari].
“I absolutely trust him to deliver the maximum possible performance in the race.
“And if the car is good, why shouldn’t it work out with the eighth title?”
But the ever-lasting painful memories from 2021 still haunt Haug, as he explained the knock-on effect that season had on the team afterwards.
“The last few years [have been difficult] since the title we lost in 2021,” he said.
“And that really was a stolen title – there’s no other way to put it – due to the wrong Safety Car decision at the time, but there was a demolition after that.
“The car and the team that preceded it suffered many setbacks, including last year.
“The victories that did come were some at low temperatures.”
The W16 took the track in Bahrain last week for testing, and Haug was asked about Mercedes’ chances in 2025.
He replied: “I think we are, as you know, just as good as we were in the last race.”
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