The shock and bemusement reverberated across the paddock when the news broke. In fact it is difficult to overemphasise the brutal reaction the cutthroat Formula One circus – whether it be media, former drivers or fans – had in September 2012 when Lewis Hamilton left McLaren for Mercedes.
Even the wishes of his father and manager, Anthony, were ignored. As Jeremy Clarkson put it so tactlessly on a 2012 episode of Top Gear: “Is that not a bit like moving from Manchester United to West Ham?” And sorry Hammers fans – it was not a compliment.
