by Daniele Sparisci and Giorgio Terruzzi
Official announcement from Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton will race for Maranello in 2025 paired with Leclerc. Multi-year contract for him
Lewis Hamilton will be a Ferrari driver in 2025. Once the official announcement has arrived, the 39-year-old British champion will join the team from the 2025 season on a multi-year contract. Two lines destined to make the history of racing and sport, whatever happens.
Team Statement
Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/moEMqUgzXH
— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 1, 2024
After the Courier’s preview there was an acceleration and a summit was held in the Mercedes headquarters in Brackley to explain the news which shocked the environment. It was the Austrian boss who remotely communicated to the employees that the seven-time world champion will change team next year. Then in the evening the official press release: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will separate at the end of 2024.
Hamilton, who turned 39 on January 7, has chosen to link up with the Scuderia who had tried to sign him several times in the past. In vain. Lewis will be paired with Charles Leclerc in 2025, this year he will close the season with Toto Wolff’s team with which he started in 2013. His family always said this, even after the latest contract extension. But evidently the time had come for a change of scenery, to give in to the temptation of an adventure in red, a need that could no longer be postponed. Seven titles like Michael Schumacher, the first won in 2008 with McLaren in his second year in F1.
Eleven years ago he chose the right time to move to Mercedes, seizing the opportunity offered by the change in regulations and the superiority of the Germans in terms of power units. With the Stella dream team Lewis won six World Championships between 2014 and 2020, missing only the 2016 one won by former friend-rival Nico Rosberg. In 2021 the epic duel against Verstappen, lost on the last lap in Abu Dhabi, amid never-ending controversy.
Then in 2022 the misstep of Mercedes who was unable to interpret the new ground effect technical regulations: Lewis found himself chasing, even Ferrari, while his teammate George Russell took home a victory in Brazil. As for successes, the baronet of Stevenage is the record holder in F1: 103 victories, the last of which was 2021 (in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). One hundred and four poles, another absolute record.
One more year at Mercedes and then the big leap to continue beyond 40 years of age. To free himself, he activated a clause in favor of the driver which was included in the last renewal signed in August. A strong and precise choice about which Toto Wolff was unable to do anything. It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life – said Lewis – but the time was right to embark on this new journey. I will always be grateful to Mercedes for everything.
Wolff greets him like this: Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes’ history in motorsport. In any case, we knew that this collaboration, at some point, would naturally come to an end, and that day has arrived. We accept Hamilton’s decision to seek a new challenge and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But we still have a season ahead and we are focused on delivering a great 2024.
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February 1, 2024 (modified February 1, 2024 | 10:26 pm)
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2024-02-01 19:42:54
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