Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (2024)

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (1)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (2)

Luke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (5)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (6)

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest

  • 📎 Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari on “multi-year deal” in 2025
  • 📎 Why Hamilton is quitting Mercedes to form a Ferrari ‘superteam’
  • 📎 Who could replace Hamilton at Mercedes?
  • 📎 Toto Wolff: ‘We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge’
  • 📎 Carlos Sainz: ‘News about my future announced in due course’
  • ✉️ Let us know your thoughts by emailing livebloguk@theathletic.com
February 1, 2024 at 3:20 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (9)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (10)

The end of an era...

... so says the former F2 driver Clément Novalak.

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February 1, 2024 at 3:10 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (13)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (14)

Who could replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

Lewis Hamilton’s shock departure from Mercedes at the end of 2024 to join Ferrari will go down as one of the biggest driver moves in Formula One history.

With over half the grid out of contract, the driver market ‘silly season’ was always going to be a major storyline through 2024.

But no one predicted it being sparked this early, a month out from the new season, especially not by a driver whose future looked to be sewn up. Hamilton’s two-year contract, announced in August, was in fact a ‘1+1’ deal, opening the door for his exit to Ferrari.

It will have a massive knock-on effect in the driver market, opening up one of the most coveted seats on the F1 grid. Filling the shoes of a seven-time world champion, and someone who’s success has been synonymous with that of the team, is going to be a big, big job.

Which drivers are up to the challenge? Here’s a look at the potential candidates to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.

GO FURTHER
February 1, 2024 at 3:00 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (19)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (20)

Where today’s news leaves Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (21)

Lewis Hamilton’s departure comes as a big blow to Mercedes following such a long relationship that stretches right through his F1 career. Hamilton’s first F1 title, won with McLaren in 2008, came when it was Mercedes’ main team.

Hamilton said upon signing his new Mercedes contract in August that he had “unfinished business” with the team and there was “no place I would rather be.”

Mercedes has established a strong bond with Hamilton through his F1 career, working together on many off-track charitable initiatives such as Mission 44, designed to improve diversity and representation within motorsport.

But his departure leaves Mercedes contemplating potential replacements after initially planning to partner Hamilton and Russell until at least the end of the 2025 season.

The majority of the F1 grid is out of contract for next year. Only Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have their futures sewn up, leaving plenty of candidates for Hamilton’s seat.

February 1, 2024 at 2:52 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (24)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (25)

‘A partnership like no other’

Mercedes have just added to today’s statement by posting the following tweet.

February 1, 2024 at 2:28 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (32)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (33)

Why Lewis Hamilton is joining Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (34)

Lewis Hamilton has been linked to a Ferrari move throughout his F1 career. In May last year, when reports emerged suggesting he’d been in talks over a switch for 2024, Hamilton denied there had been any contact, while Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur claimed they “didn’t have discussions”.

Vasseur worked with Hamilton during his junior racing career and said in December they were “always in contact”, before joking: “If he signed a contract with me each time we spoke in the past, it would have cost me a fortune!”

Hamilton is also known to be close to John Elkann, Ferrari’s president, after meeting many years ago at a Google event in Italy. “That’s when our friendship started, and we’ve always remained in touch,” Hamilton said in November.

Signing Hamilton is a prospect that Elkann is thought to have long coveted. He has now secured the sport’s biggest name for his team, serving as major statement for Ferrari as it seeks to end a championship drought stretching back to 2008.

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February 1, 2024 at 2:20 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (37)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (38)

Sainz: ‘News about my future will be announced in due course’

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (39)

Carlos Sainz has published a statement following the news that Ferrari will replace him with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ahead of the 2025 season.

It reads: “Following today's news, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024.

“We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the Team and for the Tifosi all around the world.

“News about my future will be announced in due course.”

February 1, 2024 at 2:14 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (42)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (43)

Why Hamilton is quitting Mercedes to form a Ferrari ‘superteam’

It’s the end of an era — and the biggest driver move in Formula One history.

After 12 seasons, six world championships and 82 race wins, Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari.

It’s a day most thought would never come. Hamilton himself said last year he expected to remain with Mercedes “til my last days”, and there was “no place I would rather be.”

But the appeal of a shock move to Ferrari, announced for 2025 on Thursday, proved too strong for the seven-time champion seeking a record-breaking eighth world title.

Go Further below.

GO FURTHER
February 1, 2024 at 2:13 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (48)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (49)

Ferrari announce Lewis Hamilton signing

And here’s Ferrari’s statement.

“Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”

February 1, 2024 at 2:08 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (52)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (53)

Hamilton to join Ferrari at end of this year’s season

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (54)

Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula One season in a shock move away from Mercedes.

After news emerged on Thursday morning indicating talks were progressing rapidly, Mercedes announced this evening that Hamilton would leave the team at the end of this season.

The switch to Ferrari brings together the most successful driver and most successful team in F1 history, going down as one of the biggest driver transfer shocks the sport has known.

Hamilton will race alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari in 2025 after the Monegasque driver signed a new long-term contract last week. Carlos Sainz, a two-time race winner for Ferrari, is now set to leave the team at the end of the season.

February 1, 2024 at 2:05 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (57)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (58)

Hamilton: ‘I want to make my last year here one to remember’

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (59)

Lewis Hamilton, as quoted in Mercedes’ statement: “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.”

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February 1, 2024 at 2:03 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (62)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (63)

Toto Wolff: “We accept Lewis’s decision’

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (64)

Toto Wolff adds: “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.”

February 1, 2024 at 2:02 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (67)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (68)

Mercedes publish statement

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (69)

“The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows.

“The news brings an end to what is currently a 17-year long relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year long partnership with the works team.”

February 1, 2024 at 2:00 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (72)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (73)

Lewis Hamilton to depart Mercedes for Ferrari ahead of 2025

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (74)

There we have it: official confirmation that Lewis Hamilton will depart Mercedes ahead of the 2025 Formula One season.

February 1, 2024 at 1:57 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (77)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (78)

Where would Hamilton’s potential departure leave Mercedes?

Lewis Hamilton’s departure would come as a big blow to Mercedes following such a long relationship that stretches right through his F1 career. Hamilton’s first F1 title, won with McLaren in 2008, came when it was Mercedes’ main team.

Hamilton said upon signing his new Mercedes contract in August that he had “unfinished business” with the team and there was “no place I would rather be.”

Mercedes has established a strong bond with Hamilton through his F1 career, working together on many off-track charitable initiatives such as Mission 44, designed to improve diversity and representation within motorsport.

But his departure would leave Mercedes contemplating potential replacements after initially planning to partner Hamilton and Russell until at least the end of the 2025 season.

The majority of the F1 grid is out of contract for next year. Only Verstappen, Leclerc, Russell, and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have their futures sewn up, leaving plenty of candidates for Hamilton’s seat.

February 1, 2024 at 1:50 PM ESTLuke Brown·Managing Editor, Global Live

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (81)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (82)

Your views on Lewis Hamilton’s potential move to Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (83)

Adam M: “Wow! For me it’s not so much Hamilton moving to Ferrari, it’s the knock on effect it will have on the grid with so many contracts expiring. Albon to Mercedes? Sainz to Red Bull? Where does that leave Perez? Aston Martin? Will Alonso extend and will Stroll leave F1?”

Jessica U: “Seems like an odd move that could either be upwards or downwards, but lots of us had the same doubts when he moved to Merc.”

James H: “Not surprised when you think about it. He’s probably got 1 or 2 years left. Merc won’t challenge in the current regs (if indeed anyone remotely can) .There may be a glimmer of hope that Ferrari could maybe do something for a finale gig.”

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February 1, 2024 at 1:40 PM ESTMichael Dominski·Live Reporter

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (86)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (87)

Will history repeat itself for Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (88)

Lewis Hamilton surprised the Formula 1 world in 2012 when he opted to move from McLaren to Mercedes for the following season, replacing the retiring Michael Schumacher and partnering Nico Rosberg. Mercedes had only returned to the sport after more than a half-century absence in 2010, and they had yet to mount a serious title challenge. Hamilton, meanwhile, had won his first world championship with McLaren in 2008.

But ahead of coming regulation changes in 2014, he moved to the team he thought was best positioned to win in the new era, and it paid off historically well with six drivers championships.

Now, the same thing may be happening again, as Hamilton looks set to move to Ferrari in 2025 ahead of new engine regulations in 2026. Could his foresight pay off again?

February 1, 2024 at 1:30 PM ESTMichael Dominski·Live Reporter

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (91)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (92)

George Russell to become the Mercedes kingpin?

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (93)

With Lewis Hamilton's departure, Mercedes will fully become George Russell's team starting in 2025. That ought to suit both parties well, as the team have likely been planning on Russell leading it into the future since his days at Williams.

Russell has one career F1 win (2022 São Paulo Grand Prix) and one pole (the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix) to his name so far, and Mercedes will be expecting big things from him in the future.

February 1, 2024 at 1:20 PM ESTLuke Smith·Senior Writer, F1

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (96)Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (97)

Hard to underestimate the shock of this news

I cannot remember a news bomb this big in my time in F1. Sebastian Vettel leaving Ferrari after 2020 was something, but this is just... off the charts!

Lewis Hamilton to join Ferrari from Mercedes — latest (2024)
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