In a stunning move that has shocked the Formula One world, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has announced that he will leave Mercedes and join Ferrari from the 2025 season. The news was confirmed by both teams on Thursday, ending months of speculation and rumors about Hamilton’s future.
Hamilton, who has won six of his seven titles with Mercedes, signed a two-year contract extension with the Silver Arrows in August 2023, but it seems that he had a clause that allowed him to terminate the deal after the 2024 season. According to reports, Hamilton had been in talks with Ferrari for a long time and was impressed by their vision and ambition for the future.
Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, who will move to McLaren after three seasons with the Scuderia. Hamilton’s new teammate will be Charles Leclerc, who signed a long-term contract extension with Ferrari last week. The pair will form one of the most formidable line-ups in F1 history, as they have a combined 110 wins and 10 titles between them.
Hamilton said that joining Ferrari was a dream come true and that he was looking forward to a new challenge in his illustrious career.
“I am very excited and honored to join Ferrari, the most iconic and successful team in F1 history. It has always been a dream of mine to drive for Ferrari and I feel that this is the right time to make this move. I have had an amazing journey with Mercedes and I am very grateful for everything they have done for me. We have achieved so much together and I will always cherish our memories. However, I feel that I need a new challenge and a new motivation to keep pushing myself to the limit. Ferrari has a great project and a great vision for the future and I want to be part of it. I can’t wait to start working with Charles, who is a fantastic driver and a great person. I am sure we will have a lot of fun and success together.”
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto welcomed Hamilton to the team and said that he was confident that he would bring a lot of value and experience to the Scuderia.
“We are delighted to announce that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari from the 2025 season. Lewis is a legend of the sport and one of the greatest drivers of all time. He has proven his talent, speed, consistency and leadership over the years and we are very happy to have him on board. He will bring a lot of value and experience to our team and he will be a great partner for Charles. We have a very strong and balanced line-up for the future and we are confident that we can compete at the highest level and fight for the championships.”
Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes will mark the end of an era for the team, which has dominated F1 since 2014, winning eight consecutive constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles with Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff thanked Hamilton for his contribution and wished him all the best for his future.
“Lewis has been an integral part of our team and our success story for the past nine years. He is not only a phenomenal driver, but also a great leader and a wonderful human being. We have shared some incredible moments and achievements together and we are very proud of what we have accomplished. We respect his decision to join Ferrari and we wish him all the best for his future. He will always be part of the Mercedes family and we will always have a special bond with him.”
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari will undoubtedly shake up the F1 grid and create a lot of excitement and anticipation for the 2025 season. Hamilton will face a tough challenge to adapt to a new team and a new car, as well as to compete with his former rivals and his new teammate. However, Hamilton has shown that he is not afraid of challenges and that he is always hungry for more success. He will also have the opportunity to achieve something that no other driver has done before: to win a world title with three different teams.
Hamilton will join Ferrari from the 2025 season, but he still has one more season to go with Mercedes. The 2024 F1 season will begin on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.
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