The news of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025 has sparked the interest of the media across Europe, as well as the enthusiasm of the English ones. THE GUARDIAN defines it as "absolutely unexpected" and speaks of a "choice in line with his previous , bold decisions", worthy of a pilot who "never backed down from challenges".
According to the TIMES "Ferrari exerts the same fascination on Hamilton that Real Madrid exerts on footballers" and adds that on the last day of the winter transfer window the surprise blow came, but not from the ball.
The DAILY MAIL talks about a 40 million pound deal and anticipates that Daniel Ricciardo could take the place of the seven-time world champion at Mercedes.
The BBC SPORT website defines the transfer as "an earthquake" for F1 and questions whether, at the age of 40, "the gamble of focusing on Ferrari will pay off" for Hamilton.
There was also great coverage in the French media, starting with L'EQUIPE which spoke of a "bomb in the paddock" and a "cataclysm for Mercedes".
By signing for Ferrari Hamilton "took everyone by surprise".
At least how many didn't notice - underlines the newspaper - that, when the rumors of the sensational change of seat began to take shape, the Ferrari stock on Wall Street jumped "from 318 euros at midday to over 350 at 3.30pm".
"Earthquake in Formula 1" is the title of LE MONDE.
In Spain, MARCA wonders whether it is "the most important transfer in the history of Formula 1", evoking an "earthquake like the arrival of Senna at Williams, Schumacher at Ferrari or Alonso at McLaren".
And he insists on the not only sporting value of fielding a famous driver like Hamilton, who will bring with him "his legion of fans all over the world, his vegan, musical, ecological and glamorous profile and, above all, the story of a monumental driver ".
AS has collected the voices of some authoritative commentators.
The words of Flavio Briatore, long-time successful manager in the Circus, stand out: will the Hamilton-Ferrari duo work?
"I don't know, first you have to have the right car. You can enlist Batman in the team, but if the car is not competitive the driver cannot make the difference.
It is essential that the car works. Ferrari must invest in the technical area."
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