The driver market sensation is perfect: After 18 years together in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will go their separate ways in 2025. The most successful F1 driver in history will move to Ferrari after the 2024 season, which he will contest with Mercedes, where he will become a teammate of Charles Leclerc. After Hamilton’s Ferrari transfer began on Thursday morning, the parties confirmed the move on Thursday evening.
Because Hamilton had only signed a new Mercedes contract a few months ago, no one really believed the recurring rumors about a move to Ferrari anymore. Mercedes announced in August 2023 that Hamilton would drive for the brand with the star in Formula 1 until the end of 2025.
Hamilton moves to Ferrari! Who will replace him at Mercedes?: (09:20 mins)
“Lewis has drawn an exit clause in the contract he announced last August, which is why the upcoming season will be his last as a driver for the Silver Arrows,” Mercedes now says in a press release. The fact that Hamilton can exercise the option before the start of the first contract season raises questions.
Hamilton: Mercedes farewell toughest decision ever
“We knew that our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come,” says Mercedes Motorsport boss Toto Wolff. Hamilton himself remembers saying goodbye: “Mercedes have been a part of my life since I was 13 years old. I grew up with them and leaving them was therefore one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.”
Lewis Hamilton already drove a kart with Mercedes AMG branding, photo: Sutton
Hamilton was supported by McLaren-Mercedes during his karting days and was promoted to Formula 1 with the British racing team in 2007. In 2013 he moved from McLaren-Mercedes to the Mercedes works team, which was reinstated in 2010. The change was not without controversy at the time, but Hamilton won six drivers’ world championships from 2014 to 2021.
In total, Hamilton, like Michael Schumacher, has seven driver titles. He has already surpassed the German with 103 race wins. The first black Formula 1 driver in history took 82 of them with the Mercedes works team. “I’ve had eleven fantastic years with this team and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together,” reflects Hamilton.
“Our partnership with Lewis has become the most successful team and driver pairing in the history of our sport. We can look back on that with pride. Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes’ racing history,” promises Toto Wolff.
Hamilton to Ferrari change: time is ripe
But the medium-term future for Hamilton is Ferrari. “The time is ripe for me to take this step and I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge,” said the 39-year-old, who will celebrate his 40th birthday shortly after taking up his duties in Maranello – but had once vowed to be retired from Formula 1 at the age of 40.
Ferrari only confirmed on Thursday evening in a mini press release with a single sentence that Hamilton had signed a multi-year contract. The Scuderia still owes further details, regardless of whether it is the duration or the reactions of the team and group management.
Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur know each other from their GP2 days, photo: LAT Images
Hamilton meets Fred Vasseur at Ferrari. The Frenchman has been team boss in Maranello since 2023. The two have known each other for two decades. In 2006, Hamilton won the GP2 series title with Vasseur’s ART racing team, but contact between the two never completely broke off. But it is well documented that Ferrari is not an easy place. MSM editors Christian Menath and Markus Steinrisser analyze Hamilton’s decision and his chances of success here:
Can Lewis Hamilton conquer the Ferrari demons? Pro Contra
Formula 1 season 2024 for Hamilton silver farewell tour
The short-term future is still called Mercedes. The successful duo will still compete together in the 2024 season, which begins in a month in Bahrain. “I am 100 percent determined to give my absolute best this season and make my last year in a Silver Arrow an unforgettable year,” promises Hamilton.
According to the record winner, there are no problems between people: “I will always be grateful to my Mercedes family for their incredible support, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership qualities, and I would like to end the collaboration on a high note.”
Driver market is gaining momentum: Who will follow Hamilton?
The Hamilton change has far-reaching consequences for the driver market. Carlos Sainz has to give way to Ferrari. The Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of 2024. Sainz is Andreas Seidl’s preferred candidate to join Audi in 2026. A move to the Sauber team next year is considered likely. Already had before Carlos Sainz Senior pushed for his son to change after he won the Dakar Rally with Audi.
The most exciting question is who Mercedes will sign as Hamilton’s successor and who will start alongside George Russell for the Silver Arrows in 2025. “We have exciting opportunities for the future,” says Wolff. In fact, the driver market has already thinned out: Lando Norris recently extended his contract with McLaren early, and Max Verstappen is tied to Red Bull until 2028 anyway.
Mercedes still has replacement and simulator driver Mick Schumacher and the highly praised junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli in their own ranks. However, Antonelli will start his first Formula 2 season in 2024, and a promotion to Mercedes Formula 1 driver in 2025 seems premature.
Alexander Albon (currently under contract with Williams) or Esteban Ocon (Alpine) could be alternatives. Ocon comes from the Mercedes youth program and is still managed by Mercedes. We have analyzed all options here:
Lewis Hamilton leaves Mercedes: who will be his Formula 1 successor?