Aditya ChaudhuriIn a shocking move that has taken the Formula One world by storm, Scuderia Ferrari have announced the signing of seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton on a multi-year deal kicking off in 2025.
Hamilton, who is currently with Mercedes and has been with them since the end of 2013, will be joining Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz, with Charles Leclerc having recently signed a new contract with the Maranello-based Italian outfit.
Hamilton started his illustrious career in 2007 with McLaren and won his first World Championship the following year. He moved to Mercedes in 2013, replacing Michael Schumacher, and has gone on to win six Drivers’ titles (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020) with them, having also helped them win eight Constructors’ titles in the process.
Hamilton re-signed with Mercedes in the summer of 2023 on a contract that would have seen him remain with the Silver Arrows beyond 2025.
After dominating the sport between 2014 and 2020, Hamilton and Mercedes have fallen off in the last two years, the former having endured two winless seasons for the first time in his career.
Ferrari haven’t won a Drivers’ title since 2007 and a Constructors’ title since 2008.
Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, Mercedes, said:
“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.“
Lewis Hamilton commented:
“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.“
Ferrari put out the following statement on the matter:
“Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.“
