Lewis Hamilton, Formula One’s most successful driver of all time, will race for Ferrari beginning in 2025 after triggering a release option in his contract with Mercedes in August.
The shocking news, confirmed first by Mercedes and then in a one-line statement from Ferrari, came after a day of building uncertainty, with the world waiting for updates from Maranello and Brackley.
“Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract,” Ferrari said.
Hamilton is “the most successful driver in F1 history with 103 wins and 104 pole positions. Michael Schumacher is the only other driver with seven world titles,” Sky Sports reported.
The 2024 F1 season begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix from February 29 to March 2.
“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,” said Hamilton in the Mercedes statement.
“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.”
Hamilton said he wanted to finish his time at Mercedes on a high and was “100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember”.
“Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
“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.”
