Max Verstappen makes his feelings clear on Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari as he fires dig at Mercedes

Max Verstappen has taken a shot at Mercedes after finally speaking out about rival Lewis Hamilton's shock move to Ferrari.

There is less than a week until Formula One fans will finally get to see the 2025 cars in action as pre-season testing officially gets underway in Bahrain.

Undoubtedly, it will be seven-time World Champion Hamilton that fans will be most eager to see as they hope to get a glimpse at how the Brit will perform since announcing he was making the shock move from Mercedes to Ferrari in February last year.

But ahead of fans getting their first full look at Hamilton driving the SF-25 car, his closest rival, Verstappen has spoken about to make his feelings about the move clear.

After coming within just eight points of the securing a record-breaking eighth title in 2021, Hamilton has failed to mount a meaningful challenge in the Driver's Championship and finished seventh in the standings last season.

And, while speaking to several publications including Repubblica, Verstappen aimed a slight dig at the British driver as he revealed that it is precisely this that he believes led to Hamilton making the surprise move to Ferrari.

"I think it's a good thing," revealed the Red Bull driver

"Maybe Lewis needed new motivation after some bad seasons… it's a rebirth for him."

Hamilton and Verstappen have clashed both on and off the track on several occasions in recent seasons, and it's safe to say the two are probably not best friends.

Therefore, it will no doubt frustrate the 40-year-old that his Red Bull rival suggesting that he would need new motivation to once again compete at the top.

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton clashed on several occasions during the 2021 Formula One season. (Image: Getty)

But Hamilton isn't the only driver at Ferrari that has had to deal with battling Verstappen for the championship, as teammate Charles Leclerc also rivalled the Dutchman, albeit not as successfully, in 2022.

"They are two great drivers. It will be exciting to see them together, throughout Formula One," Verstappen admitted.

The four-time champion then issued a challenge to his former rivals, adding: "Of course, the first objective is always to beat your teammate... but we'll see if Ferrari is up to the task."