Official: Lewis Hamilton Leaves Mercedes for Ferrari
British driver Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari after advanced negotiations with the Maranello-based team were successfully concluded prior to the start of the new season. According to Marca, Hamilton approached the Italian team expressing his desire to race for them before he retires.
Following the announcement by Mercedes, Ferrari released a statement confirming that Hamilton has signed a multi-year contract with the team.
This development means that Charles Leclerc will welcome a new teammate, while Carlos Sainz will depart from the prestigious stable. The latest announcement may lead to a driver shuffle within Formula 1, so it’s possible that the Spanish driver might still find a seat for the 2025 season.
The 39-year-old racer signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes for the 2024 and 2025 seasons last summer, but the agreement included a clause that allowed him to leave after one season if he chose to do so. The British star has decided to exercise this option.
Mercedes summoned everyone to the factory on Thursday during the day, where team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison personally informed the team members of Hamilton’s impending departure at the end of 2024.
Hamilton has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Mercedes, particularly at the beginning of the 2023 season when he stated that Mercedes was "on the wrong track" with its new concept.
Despite his concerns, Hamilton finished third in the drivers' championship standings, behind the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
Hamilton moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, where he won six world championships and achieved 82 of his career's 103 RACE VICTORIES with the Mercedes car (his first championship title was with McLaren in 2008).
Hamilton’s new teammate, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc, recently extended his contract with Ferrari.
The Maranello stable announced on January 25 that they had reached an agreement with the 26-year-old driver, securing his services beyond 2024.
Leclerc became a member of Ferrari's Driver Academy in 2016, got his chance at Sauber in 2017 due to his impressive performance in Formula 2, and has been strengthening the main team since 2019.
In that year, he became the youngest race winner in Ferrari's history with his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
WITH FERRARI, HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN 103 RACES, WON FIVE TIMES, FINISHED ON THE PODIUM 30 TIMES, AND ACCUMULATED 1035 POINTS.
This development means that Charles Leclerc will welcome a new teammate, while Carlos Sainz will depart from the prestigious stable. The latest announcement may lead to a driver shuffle within Formula 1, so it’s possible that the Spanish driver might still find a seat for the 2025 season.
The 39-year-old racer signed a new two-year contract with Mercedes for the 2024 and 2025 seasons last summer, but the agreement included a clause that allowed him to leave after one season if he chose to do so. The British star has decided to exercise this option.
Mercedes summoned everyone to the factory on Thursday during the day, where team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison personally informed the team members of Hamilton’s impending departure at the end of 2024.
Hamilton has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Mercedes, particularly at the beginning of the 2023 season when he stated that Mercedes was "on the wrong track" with its new concept.
Despite his concerns, Hamilton finished third in the drivers' championship standings, behind the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
Hamilton moved from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, where he won six world championships and achieved 82 of his career's 103 RACE VICTORIES with the Mercedes car (his first championship title was with McLaren in 2008).
Hamilton’s new teammate, Monaco’s Charles Leclerc, recently extended his contract with Ferrari.
The Maranello stable announced on January 25 that they had reached an agreement with the 26-year-old driver, securing his services beyond 2024.
Leclerc became a member of Ferrari's Driver Academy in 2016, got his chance at Sauber in 2017 due to his impressive performance in Formula 2, and has been strengthening the main team since 2019.
In that year, he became the youngest race winner in Ferrari's history with his victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.
WITH FERRARI, HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN 103 RACES, WON FIVE TIMES, FINISHED ON THE PODIUM 30 TIMES, AND ACCUMULATED 1035 POINTS.
