It has officially been announced that Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
This comes as a surprise to fans, as his unexpected departure follows the Brit signing a new deal with Mercedes in August 2023.
Reports of Hamilton’s move spiralled earlier today (1 February) as users wrote on X that it’s ‘not something they saw coming’.
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The 39-year-old hasn’t particularly had the easiest ride in his race car for the past two seasons as Mercedes has struggled with new F1 regulations.
Back in 2022, Hamilton failed to win his race in a single season for the first time in his entire career – with his first F1 season taking place in 2007.
The star first signed with Mercedes all the way back in 2013, becoming the best-paid F1 driver in history.
As reports began earlier today that Hamilton would be leaving for Ferrari, Sky Sports News reported that the Mercedes factory was to be briefed by chief executive of the team, Toto Wolff, ahead of the official announcement about a change of team.
Mercedes took to social media to confirm Hamilton's eventual departure, writing: "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 year."
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A report by Motorsport.com also stated that negotiations with Ferrari are said to be at an advanced stage.
Hamilton signed a new Mercedes deal for 2024 and 2025, but the F1 team confirmed he used a release option in that contract.
Speaking after signing his new deal, Hamilton said: “We dream every day of being the best and we have dedicated the past decade together to achieving that goal.
“Being at the top does not happen overnight or over a short period of time, it takes commitment, hard work and dedication and it’s been an honour to earn our way into the history books with this incredible team.”
He added: “We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback. We continue to chase our dreams, we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again.
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“I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track. Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”
The 2024 F1 season will begin with the Bahrain Grand Prix in March, marking Hamilton’s last with Mercedes.
On his future, he'd previously said: "I can't race forever, and it's good to have other things that you can be creative and tap into.
"You can't be thinking about racing 24/7, because you'll go out of your mind."
Featured Image Credit: Qian Jun/MB Media/Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesTopics: Formula 1, Cars, Lewis Hamilton, Celebrity, Sport