Official Hamilton to Leave Mercedes
Photo by (©)The-Race

Official: Hamilton to Leave Mercedes F1 After 2024

01/02/2024

In a major shift, Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes F1 after 2024, marking a new chapter as he joins Ferrari. This move signals a significant change in Formula 1 dynamics.

The puzzle pieces are falling into place one by one, and it now seems clear that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025. Indeed, Mercedes F1 has announced that the seven-time world champion will leave the team after the 2024 season, his 12th at Brackley, and confirmed he had “activated an option” in his contract signed just a few months ago.

The announcement comes early, reminiscent of Fernando Alonso in late 2005, declaring his departure to join McLaren in 2007. Thus, Hamilton and Mercedes have a full season left to end their story together on a high note.

However, this also sends a potentially worrying signal for Mercedes, as one could imagine Hamilton would have stayed if the W15 had shown promise in the simulator and computer simulations.

For Mercedes, this leaves a year to ponder before finding a teammate for George Russell in 2025. Esteban Ocon is a likely candidate, as the manufacturer recently reminded that they still manage his career. Names like Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher, or Alex Albon, linked to a Mercedes client, will likely come up often in discussions.

Hamilton Bids Farewell to Mercedes

“I have spent 11 incredible years with this team and am very proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been a part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I grew up,” Hamilton comments.

“Making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. But the time has come for me to take this step, and I am excited to embrace a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support from the Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership, and I want to finish beautifully together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance possible this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows one to remember.”

Toto Wolff, team director and CEO, adds: “In terms of a team-driver duo, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has ever seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride.”

“Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes’ motor racing history. However, we knew that our partnership would naturally come to an end at some point, and that day has now arrived. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to consider. But for now, we have one more season left, and we are focused on racing to achieve a solid year in 2024.”

Lewis Hamilton to Join Ferrari in 2025

In a major shake-up in the world of Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025. After increasingly serious rumors, the arrival of the seven-time world champion at Scuderia Ferrari has now been made official.

A very brief statement, without any quotes, was released tonight following a communiqué from Mercedes F1.

“Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will join the team in 2025, as part of a multi-year contract.”

Hamilton will leave Mercedes F1 to join Ferrari, teaming up with Charles Leclerc from 2025. The British driver will thus take on a final challenge in his career, having already surprised the paddock in 2013 by moving from McLaren to Mercedes.

Fred Vasseur has managed to persuade Hamilton, with the two having known each other since 2005, when the British driver was racing for the ASM team, founded by the Frenchman. After a title in F3, they won F2 together in 2006 with ART Grand Prix, before Hamilton joined McLaren.

Ferrari will thus field an impressive duo with Hamilton and Leclerc, who remains at the heart of Ferrari’s project. The Monegasque will be able to benefit from the British driver’s experience to gain more tools with the aim of achieving greater consistency in winning.

Official: Hamilton to Leave Mercedes F1 After 2024. Official: Hamilton to Leave Mercedes F1 After 2024

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