Ferrari’s patience pays off
Hamilton reacts emotionally to Formula 1 hammer
February 1, 2024, 8:57 p.m
Ferrari has officially confirmed Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton’s move to Scuderia for the 2025 season. The Briton is therefore signing a contract for several years. Mercedes had previously announced the end of its collaboration with Hamilton
Ferrari had been digging for years, Lewis Hamilton remained loyal to Mercedes for years – but at the end of his career the temptation was too great: The British record world champion is moving to Scuderia next year, and from 2025 Hamilton will be fighting for his longed-for eighth world title in Ferrari . Both racing teams confirmed the change, a good four weeks before the start of the new season in Bahrain. Hamilton will still drive for Mercedes in this one. The 103-time Grand Prix winner is making use of an exit clause.
“Our partnership with Lewis has become the most successful team and driver pairing in the history of our sport,” Mercedes Motorsport Director Toto Wolff said in a statement from the team: “We knew that our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and this day has now come. We accept Lewis’ decision to take on a new challenge while offering us exciting opportunities for the future.”
“I grew up with Mercedes and leaving them was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” said Hamilton about his departure. “But the time is ripe for me to take this step and I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge. I’ve had eleven fantastic years with this team and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
However, Mercedes only extended the contracts with Hamilton and his English compatriot George Russell until the end of 2025 in August last year. However, there had always been speculation about a move to the most famous Formula 1 racing team. Hamilton admitted last year that he had already imagined what it would be like to “drive in red.” Now the 39-year-old record world champion is actually switching to Ferrari – a year before the new engine regulations are introduced for the 2026 season.
However, the Silver Arrows crisis in the past two years and the agonizing wait for his first Grand Prix victory since December 2021 may have influenced Hamilton’s decision. However, Ferrari has been waiting for the next title success among the drivers since Kimi Räikkönen’s triumph in 2007 – Hamilton’s first year in Formula 1. Hamilton moved to Mercedes for the 2013 season as Michael Schumacher’s successor after his final resignation from McLaren. He became world champion in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.