Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has stunned the motorsport world by announcing he will leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025. This bombshell news comes after Mercedes confirmed Hamilton’s departure at the end of the 2024 season.
“The time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge,” said Hamilton, expressing his excitement for the move.
Following the announcement, Ferrari officially confirmed the arrival of the 39-year-old Briton, where he will partner their current driver Charles Leclerc.
This move marks a significant moment in Formula One history, as Hamilton has spent his entire career with Mercedes and its predecessor McLaren. While discussions with Ferrari occurred briefly in 2019, this switch presents a major turning point for both Hamilton and the teams.
The BBC reported that Mercedes team members were informed of Hamilton’s decision through a meeting with team boss Toto Wolff on Thursday. Reports also suggest Hamilton activated a release clause in his previous two-year contract, allowing him to leave after one season.
“Lewis has chosen to activate a release option in his contract and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows,” confirmed Mercedes in a statement.
While expressing gratitude for his time with Mercedes, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” he said. “However, making the decision to leave was one of the hardest I have ever had to make.”
Several media outlets report that Hamilton’s agreement with Ferrari was finalised quickly, coinciding with Ferrari’s negotiations with Carlos Sainz, who announced his departure from the team later in the year.
With the 2021 championship loss to Max Verstappen and subsequent struggles with Mercedes’ car performance, Hamilton seeks a fresh challenge and possibly another shot at the championship title. While Ferrari haven’t dominated the scene recently, they displayed promising improvement towards the end of the 2023 season.
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