Mercedes have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton will depart the group on the finish of the 2024 F1 season because the seven-time F1 world champion is about to hitch Ferrari subsequent yr on a multi-year contract.
On the eve of final yr’s Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton signed a brand new two-year contract with Mercedes which was attributable to expire on the finish of 2025. Nonetheless, the 103-time F1 race winner has introduced a shock transfer which can see him depart Mercedes on the finish of the present season in a bid to hitch System One’s most profitable group, Ferrari subsequent yr.
After a day stuffed with hypothesis, extending on the choice, Mercedes Staff Principal Toto Wolff added: “When it comes to a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has turn out to be probably the most profitable the game has seen, and that’s one thing we will look again on with delight; Lewis will at all times be an essential a part of Mercedes motorsport historical past.
“Nonetheless, we knew our partnership would come to a pure finish in some unspecified time in the future, and that day has now come. We settle for Lewis’s determination to hunt a contemporary problem, and our alternatives for the longer term are thrilling to ponder. However for now, we nonetheless have one season to go, and we’re targeted on going racing to ship a powerful 2024.”
Hamilton has raced for the Silver Arrows because the 2013 season and has gained six of his seven world titles with the group, including to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his profession.
The 104-time pole-sitter exercised a launch choice to permit him to stroll away from the group after only one season. His determination signifies that he’ll nonetheless race for Mercedes in 2024 alongside George Russell, however he’ll change Carlos Sainz at Maranello subsequent season.
Commenting on the announcement, Hamilton added: “I’ve had an incredible 11 years with this group and I am so pleased with what we’ve got achieved collectively. Mercedes has been a part of my life since I used to be 13 years previous. It is a spot the place I’ve grown up, so making the choice to go away was one of many hardest selections I’ve ever needed to make.
“However the time is correct for me to take this step and I am excited to be taking over a brand new problem. I can be without end grateful for the unimaginable help of my Mercedes household, particularly Toto for his friendship and management and I need to end on a excessive collectively. I’m 100% dedicated to delivering the perfect efficiency I can this season and making my final yr with the Silver Arrows, one to recollect.”
Staff Assertion
Scuderia Ferrari is happy to announce that Lewis Hamilton can be becoming a member of the group in 2025, on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/moEMqUgzXH
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 1, 2024
Ferrari’s determination additionally signifies that two-time F1 race winner Carlos Sainz will depart the Scuderia after 4 years at Maranello. The Spaniard is anticipated to signal with Audi’s incoming F1 challenge in 2026, which might see him race for Sauber in 2025 earlier than Audi is available in.
“Following at the moment’s information, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will half methods on the finish of 2024,” Sainz mentioned in an announcement posted on X.
“We nonetheless have an extended season forward of us and, like at all times, I’ll give my best possible for the group and for the Tifosi all world wide. Information about my future can be introduced sooner or later.”
F1
