Lewis Hamilton is about to switch to Ferrari – The Mercedes workforce was informed on Thursday afternoon about the record world champion’s departure
Will there be a “dream marriage” between record Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari after all? the Mercedes driver is in advanced negotiations with the traditional Italian racing team.
Specifically, it is about a switch for the 2025 Formula 1 season, which would see Hamilton replace Carlos Sainz, whose Ferrari contract expires at the end of 2024. Charles Leclerc recently extended his contract with the Scuderia, which would also have expired after the coming season.
Neither Ferrari nor Mercedes are currently willing to comment on the situation, but the 39-year-old could sign for Maranello as early as the end of this week, if this has not already happened.
According to Sky, the deal is already in the bag. The team’s staff in Brackley were informed of Hamilton’s departure on Thursday afternoon, which will be officially announced later.
He informed the team about Hamilton’s departure in a video link because he is currently in Milan. He himself learned of Hamilton’s plans on Wednesday morning.
In his Formula 1 career, Hamilton has never driven for an engine manufacturer other than Mercedes since joining the premier class in 2007. From 2007 to 2012, he initially raced for the McLaren customer team, and since 2013 for the works team.
Over the years, there have been repeated rumors of a possible Hamilton switch to Ferrari, but in the end it never happened. It was only last year that Hamilton extended his Mercedes contract by another two years
Hamilton good friends with Elkann and Vasseur
So if Hamilton really does switch to Ferrari, it most likely means that his contract contains an exit clause, as the record-breaking champion is actually tied to his current employer until the end of 2025 with his new contract.
If Hamilton were to switch to Ferrari, he would meet an old companion in team boss Frederic Vasseur. In 2006, the Briton won the GP2 title for Vasseur’s ART team, among others, before moving up to Formula 1 with McLaren the following year.
It is also no secret that Hamilton and Ferrari President John Elkann get on well. Hamilton himself recently revealed: “I know John very well. We met years ago at ‘Google Camp’ […] and that’s how our friendship began.”
Vasseur has known Hamilton since 2005, “and we have always had a very good relationship and often talk to each other. Especially since he’s been in Formula 1. When I was in his team and came into Formula 1, we obviously talked all the time,” said the Briton.
Back to old successes with new management and Ferrari?
In this context, it is also exciting that Hamilton recently reorganized his management and brought back his long-time friend Marc Hynes after ending his contract with the US management company Copper.
A spokesman for the record-breaking champion said at the time about Hynes’ return: “Marc will focus solely on racing activities and support Lewis’ commitment to fighting his way back to the top. “
Hamilton’s last Formula 1 victory to date came in December 2021 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, and his last world championship title to date was even a year longer ago. The 2022 and 2023 seasons were the first winless years in Hamilton’s entire Formula 1 career.
While Carlos Sainz would have to look for a new team after the 2024 season if Hamilton were to sign for Maranello, the cockpit alongside George Russell would become vacant at Mercedes in 2025.
