Lewis Hamilton has used the release clause in his contract and will unexpectedly go to Ferrari after this season.
The Mercedes F1 team confirmed in its announcement that the seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will move to another team after this season. According to the release, Hamilton has used the termination clause in his contract. As recently as last August, Hamilton had signed a contract with Mercedes for this and next season.
Ferrari then announced that Hamilton will transfer to Ferrari for the 2025 season with a multi-year contract.
– I have had 11 incredible years in the team. I am proud of what we achieved together. Mercedes has been a part of my life since I was 13 years old. I have grown up with Mercedes. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life. However, now is the right time to take this step. I am excited about the new challenge, Hamilton said in the press release and thanked the team manager Toto Wolff.
Hamilton assures that he will give his all with Mercedes in the new season.
– Our relationship with Lewis has been the most successful in history, when you look at the team and the driver. Lewis will be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. We knew that our cooperation would come to a natural end at some point. Now that day has come. We accept Lewis’ decision to seek new challenges, Wolff said.
Hamilton moved to Mercedes for 2013 from McLaren. He won six drivers’ championships with Mercedes. In 2016, there was a loss For Nico Rosbergbut otherwise the Brit dominated the F1 series with Mercedes.
Already at McLaren, Hamilton drove with Mercedes engines from the beginning of his F1 career, which means that now Hamilton will break a long period of 17 years with the German car manufacturer. Even before that, Hamilton cooperated with Mercedes.
The last few years have been difficult for Hamilton and Mercedes. The last time the Briton won an F1 race was in December 2021. The driver who has won the most F1 races of all time has therefore not once reached the top podium in the previous two seasons.
The 39-year-old Hamilton has also grabbed the most pole positions of all time. Michael Schumacher is the only one who, like Lewis Hamilton, has reached seven championships.
Transfer means that Carlos Sainz will not continue after the new season with Ferrari. He will remain Lewis Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc for the 2025 season.
– We have a long season ahead of us. As always, I will do my best for my team and the tifosos (Ferrari fans) around the world, Sainz wrote on his X account.
Sainz says that his own F1 future will be decided in time.
The F1 season starts in three weeks with tests in Bahrain. The first race of the season will be held in Bahrain on March 2.