Lewis Hamilton will be joining Ferrari at the conclusion of the 2024 F1 season, marking the end of the 7-time champion’s tenure with Mercedes. The multi-year agreement was officially announced Thursday evening.
Hamilton signed a two year contract with Mercedes back in August, keeping him with the team through 2025. However, through an exit clause, it opened a door for Hamilton to explore other options for that second year of the contract. Now, the winningest driver and team in F1 history will be paired together for 2025 and beyond.
Employees at Mercedes’ HQ in Brackley were informed of the news this morning in a 10-minute meeting led by team principal Toto Wolff. Hamilton, who has been with the team since 2013, has won six of his seven titles there. In many ways the face of Mercedes, Hamilton’s incoming departure raises many questions for the future of the team.
This news came as a shock to the F1 world, especially with the 2024 season under a month away.
It has been no secret that Hamilton has explored other options. Hamilton had conversations with both Ferrari and Red Bull last season, during his contract year with Mercedes. However, the announcement of a two year extension with Mercedes seemingly ended any conversation of a departure.
But now, it’s all been turned on its head.
After the announcement, Hamilton called the decision to leave Mercedes, “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.”
The reasons for this move are mainly speculation for the time being. Hamilton himself has expressed a fondness for Ferrari in the past, but not at the expense of his home at Mercedes.
The elephant in the room is the matter of development.
Mercedes has been unable to rediscover their championship pace since the start of the 2022 season. Hamilton has expressed some frustration with the direction of development with Mercedes’ car, however it is unclear if this played into his decision to join Ferrari.
Ferrari, after all, has not had much success either. Ever since a red-hot start to the 2022 season, Ferrari has stumbled behind both Red Bull and Mercedes in the standings. Any decision Hamilton made relating to performance would have been based on future potential.
Or perhaps the 39-year-old just wanted to drive for his favorite F1 team growing up before retiring.
Regardless of any speculation, the truth is that 2024 will be the last hurrah for Hamilton and Mercedes.
The end of the most dominant era in F1 history is imminent.
Image courtesy of F1.com
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