Update: Lewis Hamilton Officially Joins Ferrari for 2025 Formula 1 Season
“The time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge,” Hamilton said in a statement.
Update: Following reports that Lewis Hamilton would exit the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team and join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season earlier on Thursday, Ferrari has issued an official statement confiming the news.
The team took to Instagram to share the following message: “Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”
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In a press release, Mercedes noted that Hamilton “activated a release option” in the contract he signed with the team last August, and this season will be his last with the Silver Arrows.
“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said in a statement. “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,” he added. “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.”
Original Story: This just in — Lewis Hamilton is slated to leave the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team to join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The seven-time world champion is currently the most successful F1 driver ever, counting 103 wins and 104 pole positions. His contract with Mercedes is due to expire in 2024 and in the following year, he is expected to depart the team he has been with since 2013 to replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
The reported news arrives on transfer deadline day and ahead of the 2024 F1 season. The 2024 season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix which will happen from February 28 to March 2. Winning six world titles with Mercedes, Hamilton has not won a race since December 2021. In many press interviews, Hamilton has expressed frustration over Mercedes’ situation. He endured his first winless campaign of his career in 2022.
Previously, Hamilton was rumored to be linked to Ferrari this year. However, the driver signed a new two-year contract last summer that would allow him to continue to race with his Mercedes teammate George Russell through to 2025. However, it looks like he can leave after just one season if he chooses to. While the official announcement has not been made by Mercedes nor Ferrari, the BBC noted that sources close to the deal say that they are in advanced talks and have “verified the fact that it is a serious possibility.” Should the deal be confirmed, Hamilton will be joining Charles Leclerc for the 2025 season. Stay tuned for more information.
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari for the 2025 season 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ax5L8lUVAL
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) February 1, 2024
