1706814488Lewis Hamilton officially joins Ferrari in shock F1 move away from MercedesThe seven-time F1 world champion, who joined Mercedes in 2013, signed a new two-year deal last summer at the Silver Arrows but has had a shock change of heart as he strives for a record-breaking eighth title in the twilight of his career.
Hamilton will race alongside Charles Leclerc and replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year, with the Spaniard out of contract at the iconic Italian team at the end of 2024 and now looking for a new team.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison informed Mercedes personnel of Hamilton’s departure on Thursday afternoon. The Silver Arrows confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday evening.
More from our F1 correspondent, Kieran Jackson:
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:08
1706817947Comment: Lewis Hamilton lost patience with Mercedes – his Ferrari gamble makes sense nowLewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Picture it for a moment: Hamilton, a man who transcends Formula 1 and whose hunger for success is unabated, glistening in the sun of the famous scarlet red.
The pure romanticism and prestige of such a partnership – between F1’s most famous driver and the sport’s most iconic team – has been mooted for years. For all intents and purposes, though, flirtations between driver and team seemed insincere. Just fantasy. Surely, given Hamilton’s repeated commitment to Mercedes and a new two-year contract, a last dance with the prancing horse would not materialise? Surely… not?
But now we know: both parties simply could not resist.
On football’s transfer deadline day, Formula 1 ruffled the most shocking of feathers on Thursday with the news that Hamilton – Mercedes’ star man for 11 years, world champion in six of those – will join the legendary Scuderia next year. A source told The Independent that Hamilton informed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff last night, simply insisting he wants to try something new. And, out of nothing, a 2024 season forthcoming which looked so stale (no new drivers, no new races) with a runaway favourite in Red Bull has been sparked into life. A firework F1 badly needed.
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Luke Baker1 February 2024 20:05
1706817107Lewis Hamilton’s move confirmed by unlikely sourceEven football transfer ‘insider’ Fabrizio Romano has taken a break from that sport’s deadline day to announce the Lewis Hamilton move… His patented catchphrase included, of course.
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:51
1706816147Ferrari confirm Lewis Hamilton moveFerrari also confirmed on social media that Lewis Hamilton would be joining their ranks
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:35
1706815547Toto Wolff reacts to Lewis Hamilton departureMercedes team principal Toto Wolff has had his say on Hamilton’s departure.
“In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history.
“However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come.
“We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”
Toto Wolff has reacted to Lewis Hamilton’s departure
(Getty Images)
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:25
1706814947Lewis Hamilton discusses decision to leave Mercedes for FerrariSo, what have the key parties said about Hamilton’s move to the prancing horse? Here’s what the man himself wrote in the official announcement.
Lewis Hamilton said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old.
“It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge.
“I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together.
“I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join rivals Ferrari
(Getty Images/The Independent)
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:15
1706814160DONE DEAL! Lewis Hamilton joins FerrariStealing a bit of football parlance on deadline day there but it’s now official – Mercedes have announced Lewis Hamilton’s departure to Ferrari from 2025. Mammoth news and it’s now confirmed.
Luke Baker1 February 2024 19:02
1706813650Lewis Hamilton reunited with ‘right-hand man’ in support team shake-up for new F1 seasonLewis Hamilton has brought back “long term friend” Marc Hynes to his support team for the 2024 F1 season.
Hamilton is eyeing a return to form this year having not won a race for more than two years, with his last victory coming in Saudi Arabia in December 2021. The Brit’s time working with long-term performance coach Angela Cullen ended last March.
Max Verstappen has won the last three world championships but Hynes – who worked with Hamilton from 2016-2021, when the Brit won four of his seven titles – has been brought back into the frame by the Mercedes driver to focus “solely on racing activities.”
Luke Baker1 February 2024 18:54
1706811947Carlos Sainz and six other potential replacements for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes
Our Formula 1 Correspondent, Kieran Jackson, has taken a look at the drivers who could replace Hamilton at Mercedes if today’s news is confirmed…
Carlos Sainz
“A straight-swap deal could be the most obvious move for Mercedes. Sainz was out of contract at Ferrari at the end of this year anyway and may now be looking for a new team for 2025.
“Sainz is a two-time race winner, most recently with a terrific drive in Singapore last year, and has been on the podium 18 times during his nine-year career in F1 so far.
“The 29-year-old may be looking for his fifth team, having previously driven for Toro Rosso, Renault and McLaren prior to Ferrari.”
Lando Norris
“Has the Brit showed his hand too soon? The 24-year-old signed a new long-term deal at McLaren last week, taking him beyond 2025 with the papaya and into the next era of regulation changes.
“Yet Norris, who is still searching for his first win in F1, is one of the fastest drivers on the grid and Wolff could well look to land Norris to replace Hamilton – and maintain an all-British feel to the garage.
“That being said, it would take some serious money to do so now.”
More insight into Hamilton’s potential replacements, here:
Luke Baker1 February 2024 18:25
1706810377Lando Norris details McLaren’s F1 goals for 2024 after signing new contractWhen Lando Norris extended his McLaren deal last week, he ended speculation that he could join Red Bull this season.
Ironically, today’s news about Hamilton has ignited speculation that Norris could join Mercedes next year! As our Formula 1 correspondent Kieran Jackson, mentioned, it would likely take a lot of money to pry the Briton from McLaren now, but maybe Mercedes would be prepared to fork out…
Here’s what Norris said last week: “Considering we were able to do what we did last year, considering it’s a team that I’ve been with from the beginning, it’s a team that I want to continue my story with in terms of reaching my goal of winning races and winning championships.
“McLaren is the team that I want to do it with. They’re the ones who brought me into Formula 1 and gave me this opportunity. So, in some ways, I feel like I owe it to them and I’m just very much part of the family and very much enjoying where I am.
“I don’t want to join a different team and not enjoy it. I’m excited to be part of that family, especially on the trajectory that we’re on.”
More here:
Luke Baker1 February 2024 17:59
