Following the shock announcement that Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the seven-time champion has said that the ‘time is right’ to take on a new challenge and realise his childhood dream of driving for Ferrari.
Having signed a two-year extension with the Silver Arrows towards the end of 2023, Mercedes confirmed on Thursday that the Briton had triggered a break clause in his deal, allowing a switch to the Scuderia in 2025.
Throughout an 11-year stint with Mercedes, Hamilton has six World Drivers’ Championships to his accolades, however, the team’s continued struggles during the second year of F1’s ground effect regulations led to speculation that the sport’s winningest driver could seek a fresh challenge.
Last week, Ferrari confirmed that it had agreed a ‘multi-year’ extension with Monegasque Charles Leclerc before on Thursday announcing that Hamilton would replace Carlos Sainz at the Scuderia with the Briton also penning a multi-year deal with the marque.
“It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions,” Hamilton said in his first social media post since the announcement.
“But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.
“I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”
“Mercedes has been a huge part of my life since I was 13 years old, so this decision has been the hardest I’ve ever had to make. I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved together and I’m very grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone I have worked with over the years and of course Toto [Wolff], for his friendship, guidance and leadership.
“Together we have won titles, broken records and become the most successful Driver-Team partnership in F1 history. And of course I cannot forget Niki [Lauda] who was a huge supporter and who I still miss everyday.
“I must also share my huge appreciation to the whole of the Mercedes-Benz board and everyone at the company in Germany and around the world for supporting me over these 26 years,” Hamilton added.
Hamilton’s switch to the Scuderia is undoubtedly amongst the sport’s greatest driver market shocks, with Hamilton likening the move to the ‘leap of faith’ he took leaving McLaren for the fledgling Mercedes project in 2013; a move that laid the foundations for the most successful driver and team pairing in F1 history.
“The time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge,” he said. “I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013. I know some people didn’t understand it at the time but I was right to make the move then and it’s the feeling I have again now.
“I’m excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together.”
With his future decided Hamilton asserted that he remains ‘100% committed’ to the upcoming season with Mercedes and hopes to end his partnership with the Silver Arrows on a high in 2024.
From 2014 through 2021, Mercedes won eight consecutive Constructor’s titles while Hamilton added six driver’s titles to his tally as the team emerged as the dominant force in the 2014 hybrid ruleset.
However, the arrival of F1’s ground effect ruleset in 2022 saw Mercedes falter thanks to repeatedly failed attempts to draw performance from its ‘zeropod’ design concept. Hamilton remains winless since November 2021 after enduring his first two winless seasons in F1 since joining the grid in 2007.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about 2025,” Hamilton added. “My focus is on the upcoming season and getting back out on track with Mercedes.
“I am more driven than ever, I am fitter and more focused than ever and I want to help Mercedes win once again. I am 100% committed to the job I need to do and determined to end my partnership with the team on a high.”
“Thank you to all of you who have been on this journey with me, you have all lifted me up as I chase my dreams and I hope I can continue to make you proud. As always, sending you my love and positive energy.”
Discussion about this post