The biggest transfer in Formula One history, Lewis Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes to join Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, was revealed on Thursday.
Although Hamilton reportedly activated an escape clause that would have allowed him to leave Mercedes after the 2024 season, he did sign a new contract with the team last summer.
Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has won six times in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship. Since 2022, he has raced with teammate George Russell.
Russell, one of the youngest drivers in Formula One at just twenty-five, has gained a great deal of knowledge from the 39-year-old Hamilton.
Russell informed Hamilton of his decision to join Ferrari with a heartfelt message, even though Mercedes had disappointing seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Russell wrote, “It’s been special racing alongside you @lewishamilton,” as the caption for a pair of Instagram pictures. “Let’s make this a memorable season.”
Speaking about his departure, Hamilton said he is “so proud” of his accomplishments with Mercedes.
Hamilton declared, “Mercedes has been a part of my life since I was 13 years old.”
“Leaving was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make because it is a place where I have grown up.”
“But I’m eager to take on a new challenge and I think this is the right time for me to make this move.
“We are more eager than ever to win. Every victory and every failure have taught us new lessons. We will prevail once more because we won’t give up on our goals or our fight against any obstacles.
“I’m appreciative of the group that has helped me both on and off the track. We are committed to working together to accomplish more, and we won’t give up until we do. Our story isn’t over.
Carlos Sainz’s tenure with the team will end in 2024 when Hamilton joins Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.
Sainz made the following statement in an X statement: “In light of today’s news, Scuderia Ferrari and I will
Leclerc expressed his happiness at being able to continue competing for several more seasons while donning the Scuderia Ferrari race suit.
Since I was three years old, watching the Monaco Grand Prix through the window of a friend’s apartment at Ste. Devote Corner has been my dream to race for this team. I would always watch for the red cars. Since I enrolled in the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016, this team has become my second family, and during the previous five years, we have accomplished a great deal together by persevering through good times and bad.
But he went on, “I think the best is yet to come, and I’m excited for this season to begin, to make more progress and
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