This is a major surprise in the world of Formula 1. The seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes and will race for Ferrari in 2025, partnering Charles Leclerc at the Scuderia.
After many success at Mercedes including winning the drivers’ title for the outfit six times between the years 2014 to 2020, Lewis is seeking a new challenge after two frustrating seasons with the Brackley-based outfit.
Hamilton hasn’t won a race since 2021 and the Mercedes car’s lack of performance recently may have convince him to jump to a different team to continue his winning form.
It will be fascinating if he can finally achieve his eighth championship to become the most successful Formula 1 driver in the history of the sport. To team up with Charles Leclerc is going to thrilling as both are fast and determine.
The upcoming Formula 1 season is expected to be Hamilton’s last with Mercedes. He joined the outfit in 2013 after starting his career at McLaren six years earlier. Having won the 2008 world title with McLaren, Hamilton’s move to Mercedes made him the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time with more than 100 pole positions, 103 Grand Prix victories and seven championships.
However, since the new technical regulations introduced in 2022 Lewis has yet to win a race in the past two seasons. The lack of competitiveness could be the factor in deciding a move to a different team.
As for Ferrari, the team haven’t achieved title success since Kimi Raikkonen last won the championship back in 2007 so for Lewis Hamilton to take the title for the Scuderia would be an incredible achievement.
In addition, Ferrari seemed to be the closest challenger to Red Bull with Carlos Sainz winning in last year’s Singapore Grand Prix the most recent triumph.
On the subject of Carlos Sainz, it will be sad to see the popular driver leave in 2025. It will be interesting where he would go to make way for Hamilton. Hopefully a competitive seat.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as Ferrari teammates in 2025? Sounds incredible and I look forward to the on-track battles. Bring it on!
News stories:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-announces-hamilton-split-ahead-of-ferrari-move-for-f1-2025/10571396/
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-leaving-mercedes-f1-team-for-ferrari-the-hardest-decision/10571500/
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13061245/lewis-hamilton-to-join-ferrari-for-2025-formula-1-season
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68169534
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68171678
Lewis Hamilton says his call to leave Mercedes was one of the “hardest decisions” he has made in Formula 1, as his exit for Ferrari was confirmed on Thursday night.
At the end of a dramatic day of developments, as Hamilton’s bombshell move sent shock waves through F1, Mercedes ended speculation in the evening when it announced that the seven-time champion would leave the squad at the end of this year.
Speaking for the first time about the call to end his long association with Mercedes, Hamilton said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
“Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking 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 together.
“I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hamilton-leaving-mercedes-f1-team-for-ferrari-the-hardest-decision/10571500/
Official website:
https://twitter.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/1753130989054763178
https://www.mercedesamgf1.com/news/mercedes-amg-f1-lewis-to-part-ways
https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/1753133900925129140
https://www.ferrari.com/en-EN/formula1/articles/scuderia-ferrari-press-release-01-feb-2024
Extended news stories:
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-lewis-hamilton-to-make-shock-switch-from-mercedes-to-ferrari-for-2025.3U1mESEizCeJ096Qrhbkb6.html
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.lewis-hamilton-mercedes-ferrari-switch-played-out-2025.SNeOfNO20NqxBCezKBGZ7.html
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-two-of-the-greatest-names-in-f1-hamilton-and-ferrari-are-set-to-join.1iF9QCredXsl5dZPxPtquf.html
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/what-next-for-sainz-after-hamiltons-ferrari-f1-switch-bombshell/10571406/
https://www.racefans.net/2024/02/01/allure-of-ferrari-was-too-much-for-hamilton-after-two-win-less-years-at-mercedes/
https://www.racefans.net/2024/02/01/why-hamilton-to-ferrari-once-looked-like-the-deal-which-would-never-happen/
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13061567/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-confirm-seven-time-f1-world-champion-activated-release-clause-to-leave-team-and-join-ferrari
Additional news stories:
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/how-hamilton-dropped-his-ferrari-bombshell-on-mercedes/10571640/
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-bitten-by-new-norris-leclerc-f1-contracts-in-search-for-hamilton-successor/10571727/
http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/mercedes-knew-risks-leaving-exit-clause-hamilton-f1-contract/10571748/
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/02/toto-wolff-lewis-hamilton-switch-to-ferrari-formula-one
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/feb/01/lewis-hamiltons-ferrari-switch-parallels-his-past-bold-decisions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68171678
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68181535
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/13062197/its-not-a-surprise-toto-wolff-reveals-how-lewis-hamilton-broke-ferrari-news-to-him
https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433/13062142/lewis-hamilton-toto-wolff-says-mercedes-drivers-2025-move-to-ferrari-was-not-a-surprise-and-he-holds-no-grudge