Driver Lewis Hamilton agrees with Ferrari for the 2025 season

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Hamilton has raced for Mercedes since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will make a switch from Mercedes to Ferrari. Mercedes itself, this Thursday (1st), was the first to confirm that the team and Hamilton would be separating at the end of 2024, with the Briton activating a release option in his contract. Shortly afterwards, Ferrari announced that the seven-time world champion would join them from 2025 on a multi-year contract.

Hamilton has raced for Mercedes since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team. Lewis’ first title was with McLaren, at the beginning of his career.

Hamilton had committed to Mercedes last summer, signing a new contract that would keep him on board the team until 2025. But that will be paused to allow for his impactful move to the Italian team.

Hamilton’s decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley team, which struggled to adapt to last season and fell behind Red Bull in the standings.

It means Hamilton will join Charles Leclerc, who recently agreed an extension with the Scuderia “beyond 2024”, while Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the end of this year.

“I had 11 incredible years with this team [Mercedes] and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” said Hamilton. “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I grew up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,”

explained the seven-time champion.

“But the time is right for me to take this step, and I’m excited to take on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership, and I want to finish on a high note together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my final year with the Silver Arrows one to remember.”

Focus on 2024

Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes, commented on his teammate’s departure. “In terms of a team-driver duo, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has ever seen, and that is something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes’ motorsport history,” he declared.

“However, we knew that our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now arrived. We accept Lewis’ decision to pursue a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have a season to go, and we are focused on racing to deliver a strong performance in 2024,” he concluded.

Amid intense speculation about Hamilton’s future in F1 last year, Leclerc was asked about the possibility of teaming up with the Brit and admitted he would be open to it.

“If I say yes [gostaria de ser companheiro de equipe dele], I imagine it would be the title of all the newspapers. I mean, Lewis is an incredible driver and has achieved a lot in the sport. I think anyone on the track would love to have Lewis as a teammate as they would all learn a lot from him. But I’m happy where I am, and with Carlos it’s a great relationship too”, said the young Ferrari driver.

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