Hamilton at Ferrari from 2025, it's official – Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton will drive for Ferrari in the Formula 1 World Championship “from 2025, on a multi-year contract”. This was announced by the Maranello team.

The real upheaval in the market comes where football does not prevail. Lewis Hamilton, the famous Formula 1 driver, a historic award winner, who is also at the forefront of major social causes, not only for Black Lives Matter, is preparing to wear the red Ferrari jersey: a bomb, as the English immediately say, and which already is just a suggestion that has warmed Minds on the seven-time world champion's exciting move to the Maranello team. Hamilton's appointment is on everyone's lips, it has been all over the world, and the conclusion of lightning negotiations, a month before the start of the new season, arrives in the evening after a day of chasing rumors and informal certainty. Firstly, Mercedes announced that at the end of the 2024 season, Lewis will no longer be able to drive the Silver Arrow car, having enforced the termination clause contained in the renewal signed in the summer. Ferrari then shouts to the world and its fans in a few lines: Hamilton will be part of the team from 2025, on a multi-year contract. Before the short press statements, Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, had privately confirmed this reckless act to all team employees, who were urgently summoned to the English factory in Brackley.

“I am excited about this new challenge.”“, Hamilton's first words, without mentioning Ferrari in compliance with politically correct communication, “I have spent 11 wonderful years with this team – the words of the Englishman who will remain a Mercedes driver throughout next season – and I am very proud of it.” “What we have achieved together. The decision to leave was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.” Wolff greeted Hamilton with fair play, implicitly dispelling doubts about a more brutal breakup. “In terms of the duo of team drivers, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful ever in the sport, which is something We can look at it with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history – his words -. However, we knew that our partnership would end naturally sooner or later, and that day came. We accept Lewis' decision to seek a new challenge, and the opportunities available to us for the future are exciting to think about. But now, we still have a season left and we are focused on racing to have a strong 2024. In short, Hamilton at Ferrari is a surprise move, an earthquake in the circus, but also the crowning dream – albeit at the end of his career. Career – for the most emblematic athlete in the world of single-seater cars. By the time he gets to drive the first Hamilton Red car, born in 1985, he will be 40 years old: a record in terms of longevity (Fernando Alonso is on the track and still going at 42), but one that we can certainly say to the English, 'jig “Last” for the first black driver in Formula 1.

The agreement between Ferrari and Hamilton, a seven-time world champion (2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) makes reality a proposition that has over the years seen the Baronet name linked to Maranello several times. “It's a dream to be able to drive a Ferrari,” the Briton recently admitted, who will join Charles Leclerc, twelve years his junior, after a long renewal and invested in a mission Cavallino has been striving for all his life: to win that world title that has been missing for a year. 2007. In a year's time, with the 2024 results in hand, we will understand what measures of value between two numbers will look like: there are already those who are expecting sparks. Making room for Hamilton will be Sainz, whose contract expires at the end of the 2024 season and whose potential renewal has been discussed in recent weeks. “I will give everything next season,” the Spaniard’s bitter remark, at this stage of his final season at the Reds, and last August Hamilton had extended his relationship with Mercedes (which he has driven since 2013) until the end of 2025. : But the agreement included a clause allowing him By leaving Wolf's team early. And the same friendship between the Mercedes wall boss and the hero from Stevenage could have paved the way for an early farewell: but also the relationship with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari's new track team principal. “Yes, we talk to Louis a lot,” said the Frenchman. Now the asymmetrical combination of the unconventional circus driver and the Maranello tradition is complete. He will land in Ferrari, and the fans will rejoice: for them the seven titles on board are more than Lewis's civil battles.

Montezemolo: “With Hamilton and Leclerc it will be fun”

“It is an unexpected and very effective blow, which I hope will be beneficial not only to the team's competitiveness, but also represents a way to shine a spotlight on the team, which needed it.” This is how Luca Cordero di Montezemolo commented to the Italian news agency ANSA regarding the Hamilton-Ferrari wedding. “Hamilton – adds the former Ferrari president – is a great champion. He will want to do everything to end his career by winning the world championship. Leclerc is looking for his first title. It will be fun… but with two numbers. “Having a winning car will be even more important. Essential, otherwise this choice would be a big risk.”

Reproduction © Copyright ANSA