Lewis Hamilton is set to make a shock move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, according to multiple sources. The deal has been agreed by Mercedes F1 staff, who were informed in a meeting with team principal Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison.
Hamilton, 39, signed a new two-year deal with Mercedes last summer, which includes a break clause after one year. The possibility of Hamilton moving to Ferrari in 2025 was initially reported in Italian and Spanish media, but BBC Sport has confirmed the move through multiple sources.
The Hamilton deal has happened quickly, as Ferrari were in negotiations over a contract extension with Carlos Sainz, whose deal runs out at the end of this season. Ferrari president John Elkann discovered that Hamilton was a possibility and moved to secure his signature. The two are friends and have met each other socially on several occasions in recent years.
Red Bull have dominated the sport over the past two seasons since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Hamilton lost out to Max Verstappen after former FIA race director Michael Masi ignored the rules in operating a late-race safety car period. Hamilton has been driven by the desire to avenge what he believes to be an injustice and win his eighth title.
Hamilton’s move will send shockwaves through F1, similar to those when he chose to leave McLaren for Mercedes for the 2013 season. The lure of Ferrari, the sport’s most historic and evocative team, is strong for many drivers. Hamilton has always insisted he wanted to spend the rest of his career and beyond with Mercedes, but things have changed and he has decided he cannot turn down the lure of Ferrari.
Hamilton remains the biggest star in F1 and its most successful ever driver, having the joint most world titles with Michael Schumacher and the most race wins outright. His decision to leave Mercedes is a huge blow to a team with whom he signed a new two-year contract only a few months ago. His decision is as big a vote of confidence in Ferrari’s team principal Frederic Vasseur as it is the opposite for Mercedes.
(BBC)
