The transfer of the century is official: Lewis Hamilton becomes a Ferrari driver in 2025

Rumors have set the Formula 1 world ablaze in recent hours, and now they have been confirmed: Lewis Hamilton will indeed sign with Ferrari in 2025. He will join Charles Leclerc, who has just extended his contract, in the ranks of the Scuderia. The British driver will take the place of Carlos Sainz, whose contract ends at the close of this season.

Frédéric Vasseur, team director of Ferrari, has previously managed Lewis Hamilton. Notably, the British driver won the GP2 title under Vasseur’s direction at ART GP at that time. The Frenchman is said to have pushed to take the gamble on recruiting Lewis Hamilton to the Reds, and here is the Brit arriving at Maranello in 2025.

A brief message from Mercedes confirms: « Mercedes AMG and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. Lewis has activated a release option in his contract announced last year. »

The End of a Historic Career at Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton’s contract will end at the close of the 2025 season, but the Brit has decided not to see it through to the end. Employees at Mercedes’ Brackley factory were informed of the news in the afternoon by Toto Wolff himself, before the announcement was officially made.

The seven-time world champion has had a historic career at Mercedes, which he joined in 2013. After winning his first world championship title in 2008 with McLaren, Lewis Hamilton went on to claim six more with Mercedes: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. He has also secured 103 victories and achieved 104 pole positions throughout his career, making him the most accomplished driver in Formula 1 history.

« Lewis activated a termination option in the contract announced last August, and this season will therefore be his last at the helm of the Silver Arrows. This news ends a 17-year relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year partnership with the factory team, » the statement explained. Indeed, Mercedes had announced a two-season contract for Lewis Hamilton at the beginning of 2023, covering 2024 and thus 2025.

Toto Wolff also made an official statement on the announcement: « As far as team-driver associations go, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful in the sport’s history, and that is something we can be proud of; Lewis will always remain an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew that our partnership would naturally come to an end at some point, and that day has now arrived. »

Even though this relationship has been long and Lewis Hamilton has not yet won his 8th title with Mercedes, Toto Wolff accepts this decision and remains focused on 2024.

« We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to compete, and we are focused on racing to make the 2024 season a memorable one, » concludes the team director.

Hamilton: “I’ve Spent 11 Incredible Years”

« I’ve spent 11 incredible years with this team and I am very proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13. It’s a place where I grew up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. »

Frédéric Vasseur, former manager of Lewis Hamilton and current director of Ferrari, has managed to convince Lewis Hamilton to leave his Mercedes family. The English driver also wishes to focus on 2024 and end “in style.”

« But the time has come for me to take this step and I am looking forward to facing this new challenge. I will be eternally grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership, and I want to finish in style together. I am 100% committed to giving my best this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows one to remember. »

This Thursday, February 1st, will undoubtedly remain in the history books of Formula 1, and fans are already eager to see what the Ferrari-Hamilton partnership will yield in 2025.