Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, has described the decision to join Ferrari on a multi-year contract “one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.”
Since joining the Silver Arrows for the 2013 season, Hamilton has won six of his seven world championships, including the one he won with McLaren earlier in his career.
In addition, he renewed his commitment to Mercedes last summer by agreeing to a contract that would have kept him there through 2025. However, this will now be shortened to make room for his sensational departure.
Hamilton’s decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley squad, who have struggled to adapt to F1’s latest ground effect era and have dropped behind Red Bull in the pecking order.
Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the conclusion of this year for Hamilton, who will team up with Charles Leclerc, who just reached an extension with the Scuderia “beyond 2024.”
After Hamilton used his contract’s release option, Mercedes and Hamilton announced their separation on Thursday night. The two parties will part ways at the end of 2024. Shortly after, Ferrari declared that the seven-time world champion will be joining on a multi-year contract starting in 2025.
“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team [Mercedes] and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” said Hamilton. “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.”
“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,” said Toto Wolff, Principal and CEO of Mercedes Team.
But we always knew that eventually, our collaboration would come to an end, and that time has finally arrived. Lewis’s choice to look for a new challenge is respected, and it’s thrilling to think about what lies ahead for us. However, for the time being, we still have one season left, and our goal is to finish strong in 2024 by going racing.”
Last year, amidst much conjecture on Hamilton’s Formula One career, Leclerc was questioned about the possibility of collaborating with the British driver and said he would be amenable to it.
“I picture it being the headline of every newspaper if I say yes [that I would like to be his teammate]!” Leclerc grinned. Lewis is just an amazing driver who has accomplished so much in the sport.
Lewis would be a great teammate for anyone on the grid, in my opinion, as he will teach everyone a lot. However, I’m content with where I am and have a wonderful connection with Carlos.
