BREAKING NEWS
Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes on the finish of the 2024 season and join Components One opponents Ferrari on a multi-year deal in 2025.
The 39-year-ragged only signed a fresh two-year deal with Mercedes final summer season.
Nonetheless, it is understood his contract contained a fracture clause after one year, which the Briton has chosen to activate.
Hamilton said he turned into “so proud” of the success he had performed in 11 years with Mercedes.
The seven-time world champion added: “Mercedes has been section of my existence since I turned into 13 years ragged.
“It be a situation the place I actually get grown up, so making the decision to leave turned into one of the toughest decisions I actually get ever had to obtain.
“Nonetheless the time is honest for me to rob this step and I’m enraged to be taking on a fresh enviornment.”
Hamilton’s swap to the Italian crew is one of the supreme driver transfers Components 1 has ever considered – if no longer the supreme.
He is decided to partner Charles Leclerc in 2025, leaving Spaniard Carlos Sainz facing his final year as a Ferrari driver.
Hamilton joined Mercedes from McLaren for the 2013 season and secured six of his seven championships with the crew.
He also won 82 of his document 103 races with the Silver Arrows.
Personnel principal Toto Wolff said the pairing of Mercedes and Hamilton “has became essentially the most successful the sport has considered”.
“And that is something we will scrutinize wait on on with pleasure,” he added.
Hamilton said: “I will be forever grateful for the incredible reinforce of my Mercedes household, especially Toto for his friendship and management and I are looking to finish on a high collectively.
“I’m 100% committed to delivering the only efficiency I’m in a position to this season and making my final year with the Silver Arrows one to bear in mind.”
Sainz confirmed through X, formerly Twitter, he will leave Ferrari on the finish of this season.
“We tranquil get a long season sooner than us, and, cherish constantly, I will give my absolute only for the crew and for the Tifosi during the arena,” wrote Sainz.
The 29-year-ragged said information about his future might perchance well per chance well be announced “in due direction”.
Hamilton’s dominant jog with Mercedes has stalled in contemporary seasons, with the crew unable to provide him with a automobile to enviornment the facility of Max Verstappen and Crimson Bull.
His final walk win turned into on the Saudi Arabian Huge Prix in 2021 and a year later he finished sixth in the championship – two locations decrease than fresh crew-mate George Russell.
Hamilton ended the 2023 campaign third in the standings, however he turned into 341 points behind first-placed Verstappen, who claimed his third consecutive drivers’ title.
The whispers Hamilton turned into about to join Ferrari left many supporters wondering if silly season had began early this year, however the rumour mill on this occasion turned into 100% honest.
Nigel Mansell, who spent two seasons with the Scuderia from 1989 to 1990, thinks the huge circulation will be a definite one for the sport.
“I think it be wonderful for the fans and it be incredibly dynamic,” Mansell informed BBC Sport.
“I think for Lewis, he’ll potentially drag on and finish his occupation with Ferrari, it be cherish a dream strategy honest for him, I’d imagine, as a consequence of going to Ferrari is everything.”
Hamilton important his thirty ninth birthday final month and by the point the 2025 season will get below procedure, he will be essentially the most fashionable F1 driver to tranquil be racing on the age of 40.
Mansell secured the 1992 drivers’ championship during his second stint with Williams and said age will play no section in Hamilton’s skill to be aggressive.
“Of us are saying Lewis is now too ragged,” he said. “At 39? No. I won my championship at 39 and I’m in a position to also get gone on, however the politics bought involved.
“Nonetheless Lewis, if he is motivated, he is bought several, if no longer procedure more years left, I think it be honest wonderful.
“Yes, Lewis can attain it, however I’m distinct Max [Verstappen] will attain everything he can to discontinue him. And I’m distinct Ferrari this subsequent year will attain everything they will to discontinue him.
“Nonetheless I think we’ve bought a astronomical Components 1 season coming up, and it certainly appears cherish we’re going to get an exciting one in 2025.”
