Ferrari has announced that Lewis Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc from the 2025 Formula 1 season after the Briton has opted to end his long-serving ties with Mercedes.
Hamilton’s contractual situation dominated the off-track headlines during the early stages of 2023, with his previous deal having been set to expire at the end of last season.
Mercedes’ continued struggles under the second year of the current ground effect regulations created speculation that he could elect to depart for a challenge elsewhere.
However, it was confirmed ahead of the Italian Grand Prix last September that Hamilton had penned a two-year deal to remain at Mercedes with George Russell.
But rumours in the Italian media touted overnight that Ferrari was lining up a shock move for Hamilton and it has since been disclosed that a deal has been finalised.
Mercedes posted a press release on Thursday evening confirming that Hamilton would be departing before Ferrari issued confirmation of his pending arrival in 2025.
Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz in 2025 to become team-mate to Charles Leclerc, who has signed a fresh “multi-year” contract renewal that commits him to the Scuderia.
“Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract,” the team’s statement read.
Hamilton has retained a close relationship with Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur since securing the GP2 title with the Frenchman’s ART Grand Prix team in 2006.
The 39-year-old has been powered by Mercedes his entire F1 career and has amassed six Drivers’ Championships, 82 victories, 148 podiums and 78 pole positions since switching to the German outfit in 2013.
The ex-McLaren driver shares the record of seven titles with Michael Schumacher, who achieved five of his successes with Ferrari consecutively between 2000 and 2004.
However, Ferrari has not won an F1 championship of any description since prevailing in the Constructors in 2008 – the same year Hamilton claimed his first title.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has not triumphed in a race since December 2021 amid Mercedes encountering troubles with nailing a concept with the current ground effect cars.
The 103-time race winner’s move to Ferrari will materialise one year before a major regulation change, which also occurred when he opted to trade McLaren for Mercedes.
Ferrari’s decision to form a blockbuster driver line-up of Hamilton and Leclerc will leave current incumbent Sainz, who joined Ferrari in 2021, without a seat beyond this year.
The Spaniard, who bagged the sole non-Red Bull win of last season, has been connected with a possible move to Sauber, which will evolve into a works Audi entry from 2026.
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