Official: Hamilton signs for Ferrari for 2025 to replace Carlos Sainz and leave Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton will become a Ferrari driver in Formula 1 in 2025 (at 40 years old) as partner of Charles Leclerc. He The English driver will leave Mercedes to take the place of Carlos Sainz, who should take advantage of his good grid lineup to find a seat. This is confirmed Mercedes and Ferrari after the news went viral this morning, when ‘Il Corriere Della Sera’ revealed the deal. A surprise for everyone for many reasons. The signing of the century in Formula 1. The ‘Prancing Horse team’, in a brief statement to the networks, announced the arrival of the Stevenage driver with a “multi-year contract”.

“Lewis has activated the contract termination option announced in August and, therefore, this season will be his last drive for the Silver Arrows. team”, Mercedes argued.

Ferrari tried many times to sign the British driver, but always met with a resounding rejection. The English have repeatedly expressed undying love for Mercedes. This is the brand that supported him along McLaren to get to F1. And now as champion, despite many criticisms, he decided to join his project as a solo team in 2013, a choice that allowed him to have the dominant car of the new hybrid era, reaching 7 titles in his record.

Last year, his name came up again for Ferrari and the response was the same as before. “Mercedes has supported me since I was 13 years old,” he recalls. He insists on continuing to support his “family”, with whom he also has several joint projects on diversity and racial equality. He has renewed for two years, until 2025, in what appears to be his last F1 contract before the more likely jump into a brand ambassador role.

Everyone seems to have indicated that Sainz will renew. But…

For his part, Carlos Sainz was calm. The relationship with Ferrari was always good and he felt loved and appreciated. In the talks there were no tensions or anger and Sainz expects a concrete renewal offer from Ferrari. All possible scenarios point to a signing and the continuation of the Spanish. It is known that Ferrari is going to tempt Hamilton. But the chances of her saying yes are slim. The release clause allowed him to leave at the end of 2024. He will activate it after changing managers. This time, the improbable came true. Hamilton signed for Ferrari. And before the arrival of a 7-time champion, Carlos Sainz was helpless.

Risky bet?

It was a risky bet, as he signed for Mercedes in 2013. At the time, there were many critics of Lewis leaving McLaren. “Did it feel like a risk? Of course. When you make decisions, you go through changes and it’s always going to be a risk. But I would feel like I wasn’t living if I didn’t take risks, if I did ‘t constantly challenge myself and those around me. It was the inevitable direction I had to take, and it seems like the right thing to do,” he reflected this year on that move to Mercedes.

“Many people told me I was wrong. But I knew that if I didn’t do it, I would regret it. I didn’t think twice… although I remember that at Christmas, sitting outside, cold, looking at the mountains of snow, I thought: ” Damn! I hope I made the right decision.'” And he did. He led the hybrid era with 6 titles in 8 years. Until 2022, with the new regulations, Mercedes got the car concept wrong. That was kept Hamilton from victories . and the titles, but he reiterated his commitment to his “family.” And finally, he decided to change his life to choose Ferrari.

Going for Schumacher’s 8th home title

This could be a ‘last dance’ for Lewis to get rid of that thorn and experience for himself what it’s like to be a Ferrari driver. But everyone knows how ambitious he is. He wants to win. Ferrari too. The Italian team has not had a drivers’ title for 17 years (since Raikkonen 2007). More than a Lewis, they needed something better: a championship car. Lewis hopes to have it to achieve something unique: to become an 8-time world champion. Ironies of life, he will surpass the 7 titles of the greatest legend of Ferrari: Michael Schumacher, and he will do it in red after many years as a great rival of the Italians on the side of the star. The twists and turns of life. Another demonstration that in F1 anything is possible.

So, Hamilton will be looking for what Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel couldn’t because they never got the car for it. The closest was the Asturian, in 2010 and 2012, and eventually left, tired of not having the car he wanted. Ferrari continued its drought and Vettel had to leave without a prize. And John Elkann, president of Ferrari, took the Hamilton ‘card’ out of his sleeve to recreate an illusion that could go up in smoke if the Englishman is not given a champion car. Hamilton will test it alongside Leclerc, Elkann’s right eye.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss

“In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has been the most successful the sport has ever seen, and that is something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of the history of Mercedes motorsport . However, we know that our partnership will naturally end at some point, and that day has come. We welcome Lewis’ decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to watch .But for now, we’re “There’s still a season left, and we’re focused on continuing to compete to offer a great 2024.”

Lewis Hamilton: “I spent 11 incredible years here”

“I’ve spent 11 incredible years with this team and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place I grew up in , so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Lewis said.

“But the time has come to take this step and I am excited to face a new challenge. I will always be grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for their friendship and leadership, and I want to finish together in a “I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my final year with the Silver Arrows one to remember,” he concluded.