Ferrari have signed seven-time F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes on a multi-year contract from 2025.
This announcement will see Hamilton end a 12-season stint at Mercedes upon completion of this season, during which he won six of his seven world titles – although he was denied a record eighth title in controversial circumstances in the 2021 season finale at Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton also was contracted to Mercedes until the end of 2025 but will now leave a year earlier in order to make the switch to Maranello ahead of new regulations coming in for the 2026 season.
Under this move, Hamilton will be reunited with current Ferrari boss – Fred Vasseur who previously was his Team Principal during their time together at ART GP in 2006, in which Hamilton won that season’s GP2 title.
Confirming the move, Ferrari released a short statement which read: “Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”
Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff meanwhile described the team’s partnership with Hamilton as “.. 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.”
Wolff went on to describe Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari as “a natural end” whilst accepting his “… decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate.”
Hamilton meanwhile described his time at Mercedes as “amazing” as he paid tribute to the team for their support.
“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.”
The seven-time champion went on to explain his decision to move to Ferrari as he continued: “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.”
Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc who recently signed a new long-term contract with Ferrari, whilst Carlos Sainz will leave at the end of this season after he and the team failed to agree terms on a fresh contract.
Confirming his departure, Sainz shared the following post on X explaining that he will decide on his future in due course.
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) February 1, 2024
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