Lewis Hamilton to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari for 2025 Formula 1 season

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is set to switch over to Ferrari for the 2025 edition of the Formula 1 championship.

According to Sky Sports News, Hamilton's agreement with Mercedes is set to end in 2025. However, he will be leaving the team after the present season and take on the position of Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. The official announcement regarding this move is anticipated later on Thursday.

Earlier this afternoon, the staff working for Mercedes in Brackley received news about a certain matter prior to the team's official announcement. When approached by Sky Sports, Ferrari and Mercedes refused to provide their comments.

Last week it was announced that Charles Leclerc has agreed to a new contract with Ferrari. This means that he will join Hamilton as a fellow team member at Ferrari starting from the following year.

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With 103 wins and 104 pole positions, the most victorious driver in the history of F1 is the seven-time world champion. Michael Schumacher, who is the only other driver with seven world titles, is the one to achieve this feat.

Hamilton became a part of Mercedes in 2013, leaving behind McLaren, and has claimed six world titles with the team. However, he has not been victorious in a race since December 2021.

Last summer, he signed a fresh two-year deal, along with George Russell, his Mercedes teammate, which will keep him at the club until the end of 2025, despite rumors stating that he was to join Ferrari for the ongoing year.

The upcoming F1 season for 2024 will kick off with the Bahrain Grand Prix that will take place from the 28th of February until the 2nd of March. Catch all the action live on Sky Sports F1.

The details surrounding Hamilton’s unexpected switch to Ferrari are not yet clear. We are still awaiting official confirmation and further information about the move. It is not yet known what prompted Hamilton to consider leaving his current team, Mercedes, and joining one of their biggest rivals. However, rumors have been swirling about a potential move for some time now, with many fans and pundits speculating about the reasons behind the potential switch. We will have to wait and see what develops in the coming weeks and months as more information becomes available.

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F1's Biggest Move Ever

Craig Slater from Sky Sports News:

We haven't received any official communication and both Ferrari and Mercedes have declined to comment. I've reached out to both teams through proper channels.

However, various high-ranking insiders in the world of Formula 1 have informed me that the agreement has already been finalized. I have complete certainty that this will indeed come to fruition.

I'm anticipating that we'll receive an official announcement before the day is over. That's what I'm currently waiting for.

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Retiring from a sports career can be really tough. Lionel Messi may have had the chance to end his career with a World Cup win, but it can still be very challenging to leave the spotlight after having such a successful and impressive career at the highest level.

How does Lewis Hamilton round out this impressive accomplishment? Perhaps spending a few years with the Ferrari team, like Michael Schumacher did, could help him secure his eighth championship title?

It would be the ultimate achievement if Schumacher could add another two wins to his already impressive five victories at Ferrari.

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Hamilton's Ties To Ferrari's History

There have been multiple rumors connecting Hamilton to Ferrari ever since he began his Formula One career with McLaren in 2007.

In 2008, he achieved his debut world championship with McLaren, however, he departed in 2012 to become a part of Mercedes. Since then, he has established an exceptional team-driver collaboration in F1 history by acquiring 82 triumphs.

After the disputed Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, Hamilton has not been a frequent contender for the lead as Mercedes has lagged behind and Red Bull has grasped control of the recently implemented 2022 regulations.

In 2022, he was unsuccessful in securing the pole position for the first time and was unable to break his record of no wins in 2023.

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Last year, the 39-year-old had discussions with Ferrari. However, the team's chief, Frederic Vasseur, stated that the Italian company never presented a contract opportunity to him.

During an interview with ESPN in May 2023, Hamilton confessed that he has contemplated retiring from racing somewhere other than his longtime team, McLaren. He stated that McLaren is like a family to him and that he has been with them since his early teens, so the thought of returning to the team has crossed his mind.

As I observed the drivers of Ferrari on the monitors at the circuit, I couldn't help but ponder about the experience of being in the red ensemble. Nonetheless, my allegiance lies with my crew at Mercedes, which is where I belong. I am contented with my current position. While I haven't finalized my contract, it is in the midst of being worked out.

Leclerc commenced his time at Ferrari in 2019 and Hamilton is on his way to becoming Leclerc's third Scuderia teammate. Prior to Sainz, Leclerc shared the track with Sebastian Vettel for a couple of seasons.

When questioned in the previous year regarding his desire to have Hamilton as a colleague, he replied, "Admitting to it would probably make it the headline story in every paper. Nonetheless, I must state that Lewis is an extraordinary driver who has accomplished a lot in the world of racing."

In my opinion, anyone competing in the racing world would highly value the opportunity to be paired with Lewis as a colleague, since he would be an excellent teacher. However, I am currently content with my current position. Additionally, my association with Carlos is also very positive.

Hamilton's Surprising Move Sparks Reaction

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Hamilton's Replacement: Who's Next?

Mercedes is in a difficult situation after Hamilton’s unexpected declaration since they are parting ways with a driver who is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

Sainz, who was the lone victor from a team other than Red Bull in the previous year's race unfortunately misses the opportunity and is presently sidelined with no racing proposition for 2025.

Slater added that it's important to note that this is the reason why McLaren recently extended Lando Norris' contract and why Ferrari also secured Leclerc's services for a longer period.

After learning that Hamilton was joining their team, Ferrari began to realize that other teams' top players might also be pursued by Mercedes. This wasn't a sudden development - the two parties had been in talks for months leading up to the announcement.

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It's difficult to discern which driver Mercedes is promoting, which could mean positive developments for George Russell since he may rise to the top spot within the team.

"Frederik Vesti is currently their less experienced driver and may not yet be prepared for the demands of a Formula 1 race. On the other hand, Mick Schumacher, who serves as their backup driver, had some difficulties at the start of his F1 journey. It's possible that he is only filling in temporarily. In my opinion, Alex Albon could be the ideal candidate to step in for Hamilton, as he brings a wealth of experience and skill to the table."

The upcoming 2024 season will have a total of 24 races! You can catch all the action from each round by tuning into Sky Sports F1. The first race, the Bahrain Grand Prix, takes place from February 29 to March 2. You can also stream all F1 races and other content by signing up for a NOW Sports Month Membership.

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