Lewis Hamilton leaves Mercedes and joins Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season | Formula 1 news

Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari next year to replace Carlos Sainz in a surprise move; Hamilton signed a two-year contract with Mercedes that expires at the end of 2025, but he will spend only one season with the team. Watch every F1 race in 2024 live on Sky Sports F1

Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes and join Ferrari in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Hamilton's current contract with Mercedes was scheduled to expire at the end of 2025, but he will leave the team after this season to replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.

Hamilton has activated a release clause in his contract with Mercedes, and Ferrari confirmed on Thursday evening that the seven-time world champion will join them on a “multi-year” deal.

Mercedes staff in Brackley were informed of the news earlier on Thursday afternoon ahead of the official announcement from the team.

Charles Leclerc signed a new contract with Ferrari last week and will be Hamilton's teammate at Ferrari from next year.

The seven-time world champion is the most successful driver in Formula 1 history with 103 victories and 104 pole positions. Michael Schumacher is the only other driver to have won seven world titles.

Hamilton, who has not won a race since December 2021, joined Mercedes in 2013 from McLaren and won six world titles with the team.

He was linked to Ferrari this year but signed a new two-year contract last summer, alongside Mercedes teammate George Russell, to stay until the end of 2025.

The new 2024 Formula 1 season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2 – Live on Sky Sports F1.

One of the biggest Formula 1 moves ever

Craig Slater from Sky Sports News:

“It's very difficult to end a sporting career. Lionel Messi may have had the World Cup to win, but how difficult is it to exit the stage when you have such a brilliant career at the top?

“What does Lewis Hamilton do to win this masterpiece? Surely, after two years in red, following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher, can he win an eighth world title?

“Schumacher has won five out of seven with Ferrari, so this would really top that.”

Hamilton's past links with Ferrari

Hamilton has been linked to Ferrari several times since he began his Formula 1 career in 2007 with McLaren.

He won his first World Championship with McLaren in 2008 but left at the end of 2012 to join Mercedes, where he formed the most successful team-driver partnership in Formula 1 history with 82 victories.

However, since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Hamilton has rarely fought back at the front of the pack with Red Bull topping the new 2022 regulations and Mercedes trailing.

He failed to win and take the top spot for the first time in 2022 and continued his winless streak in 2023.

The 39-year-old was most recently in talks with Ferrari last year but team principal Frederic Vasseur claimed the Italian manufacturer never offered him a contract.

Hamilton said espn In May 2023: “I would be lying if I said I never thought about ending my career anywhere else. I started at McLaren. I like to think I will always be part of the McLaren family. I started there when I was 13, so I thought about what it would be like.” It should be if you're ever at McLaren.

“I thought and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens on the track and of course I wondered what it would be like to be in red… But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home. I'm happy where I am. “I haven't signed a contract yet, but we are working on a contract.”

Leclerc has been at Ferrari since 2019 and Hamilton will be his third teammate at the Scuderia, having partnered Sebastian Vettel for two seasons and Sainz since 2021.

When asked last year whether he would welcome Hamilton as a team-mate, he said: “If I said yes, I imagine that would be the headline in every newspaper. But I mean Lewis is a fantastic driver, and he has achieved a lot in the world championship.” sports.

“So, I think anyone on the grid would love to have Luis as a teammate, as everyone would learn a lot from him. But yeah, again, I'm happy where I am. And with Carlos, it's a great relationship as well.”

Reaction to Hamilton's shocking move

Who will replace Hamilton?

Hamilton's surprise announcement leaves Mercedes in a difficult position as they lose a driver who is regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

Sainz, who was the only non-Red Bull race winner last year, also loses out and is now without a drive until 2025.

“What I think is worth noting here is that this explains why McLaren signed Lando Norris on a long-term deal two weeks ago and why Ferrari signed Leclerc as well,” Slater added.

“Ferrari, as soon as they knew they were going to get Hamilton – and I understand that this relationship has been going on for several months, this is nothing new… – the other teams were aware that their prize assets might be a target for Mercedes.” .

“It's difficult to know who will promote Mercedes – perhaps this is good news for George Russell, as he will become No. 1 within the team.

“Friedrich Veste is their rookie driver, he's not ready for Formula 1. They've got Mick Schumacher as their backup driver, who hasn't had a great start to his Formula 1 career – could he be a stop-gap replacement? Alex Albon, for me, could be the signing “A heavyweight to replace Hamilton.”

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