It’s the racing news of the year: Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari. Meanwhile, he didn’t make the decision easy.
From 2025, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will be behind the wheel in Formula 1 for Ferrari. Both racing teams confirmed this on Thursday evening. The Brit also spoke up: “I’ve had eleven fantastic years with this team and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together. The decision to leave Mercedes was one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” says a Mercedes statement.
However, the time is “ripe to take this step and I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge,” continued the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton’s upcoming racing team Ferrari announced in a brief statement that the 39-year-old had signed a contract with Scuderia for several years. The Briton will be 40 years old in his first race in the red overalls.
“We knew that our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come,” explained Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. According to media reports, he had previously informed the workforce about Hamilton’s early departure. The 103-time Grand Prix winner is making use of an exit clause. “We accept Lewis’ decision to take on a new challenge while offering us exciting opportunities for the future,” said Wolff. Finally, one of the most sought-after cockpits will become available after the coming season.
However, Mercedes only extended the contracts with Hamilton and his English compatriot George Russell until the end of 2025 in August last year. However, there had always been speculation about a move to the most famous Formula 1 racing team.