Ralf Schumacher has dismissed any suggesting that Lewis Hamilton is reportedly joining Ferrari next year 'because of Michael Schumacher".
The world of F1 was stunned on Wednesday morning when reports emerged that Hamilton is set to join Ferrari for the 2025 season.
The seven-time world champion had penned a new two-year deal with Mercedes at the end of last season, but reports claim that contract included a release clause of such.
Mercedes held an emergency meeting at their Brackley base with staff as the reports circulated online with Toto Wolff said to have phoned in via zoom to deliver the news.
Staff were seen leaving just 14 minutes after arriving for the meeting and were told that Hamilton would be leaving at the end of the 2024 season.
Lewis Hamilton replaced Michael Schumacher at Mercedes
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The move has seemingly come out of nowhere with Hamilton repeatedly stating his commitment to Mercedes in recent years.
The 39-year-old had indicated that he was keen to retire at Mercedes and it was suggested he would take up a senior role with the team after his F1 career came to an end.
But Hamilton now looks set to retire as a Ferrari driver in a shocking turn of events, following in the footsteps of Schumacher and other F1 legends of the past.
Hamilton and Schumacher are the only two drivers in the sport's history to win seven world titles and both are regarded as the greatest of all time.
But Schumacher's brother has shut down the theory that the German sports icon played any part in Hamilton's desire to move to Ferrari.
"I don't think he's doing it because of Michael," Ralf Schumacher told Sky Sports.
"I think he's joining because Ferrari is one of the places to be in the history of Formula 1 and especially for a driver like Lewis that achieved almost everything and was very unlucky not to be eight-time world champion.
"I think for him it's just the dot on the i to make it perfect."
Hamilton's imminent departure from Mercedes naturally led to questions on who would replace him at Mercedes for next season.
Mick Schumacher remains the reserve driver for Mercedes heading into the 2024 season, although he's also set to compete in the World Endurance Championship with Alpine.
Ralf Schumacher doesn't think Michael Schumacher is Lewis Hamilton's reason for joining Ferrari
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Ralf believes Mercedes will go with a young driver to replace Hamilton, putting his nephew in the conversation as potential option.
But he feels Mercedes won't rush into any decision on Hamilton's eventual replacement.
"I think Toto Wolff is clever enough," Ralf added.
"He always like to go with young guys.
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Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes at the end of the year
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"Russell is strong enough to lead a team so I think its time for him to get a new driver on board.
"There are obviously some other drivers around - Carlos Sainz - but I think he will end up at Audi eventually so that's really not an option.
"He still has a young driver in his contract but we'll have to wait and see how he develops.
"At the moment, Mick for sure can have a chance but they still have time."
