The Brackley team announces the divorce with Lewis starting from the end of the 2024 season. All that is missing for his arrival at Ferrari is Maranello’s official announcement
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– Milan
The official announcement arrives just before 8pm Italian time: 2024 will be Lewis Hamilton’s last year in Mercedes. The press release does not say that the 7-time world champion will drive a Ferrari from 2025, but that is the other part of the news that has shocked the world of Formula 1 since this morning. The 39-year-old baronet, says Mercedes, has activated a clause in the two-year renewal signed in August which allows him to exit the contract at the end of the first season. And so he will.
HAMILTON
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“For me, they have been 11 incredible years at Mercedes and I am proud of what we have achieved together – these are the driver’s words contained in the official press release released by the team -. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13: it’s a place I grew up in, so deciding to leave is one of the hardest I’ve ever made. However, I think it is the right time to take this step and I am very happy with the new challenge that awaits me. I will always be grateful for the support received from the Mercedes family, in particular Toto Wolff for his friendship and leadership: this is also why I want to finish at the highest level possible. For now I’m just thinking about giving 100% this season and turning my last year for the Silver Arrows into one to remember.”
THE TEAM
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Speaking for the team is Toto Wolff, who at 3pm Italian time, 5 hours before making Hamilton’s farewell official, had gathered the team and announced via Zoom that the baronet would leave at the end of the season. “The relationship with Lewis has been the most successful driver-team pairing this sport has ever seen – these are the words of the Mercedes Team Principal -. Lewis will forever be an important part of our history. We obviously knew that our relationship would come to an end at some point, and that time has come. We accept his decision to seek a new challenge, but we still have one season left together and we are focused on putting together the best 2024 possible.”
THE ADVERTISEMENTS
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The first piece has been made official: Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of 2024. Now the second is missing, the one that Lewis will race for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc from 2025. And while he will try to give himself a last year “to remember” with the baronet at the wheel, Wolff will also have to decide who will replace him.
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