Lewis Hamilton signs with Ferrari for 2025 and beyond

After rumours of one of the biggest shakeups in the sport’s history sent the F1 world into a frenzy last night, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton have finally confirmed their partnership from 2025 onwards in a multi-year deal. 

In a short but sweet statement, the Maranello-based team confirmed their next year’s lineup, stating: “Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”

Despite only just announcing a two-year contract extension with his beloved Mercedes in August of last year, the 7-time World Champion will search for his record-breaking eighth title with the Italian team. 

The move, a true shock to almost everyone, has come at the “right time” for Hamilton, who is “excited to be taking on a new challenge” after joining the Mercedes lineup back in 2014. 

Hamilton will driver alongside Charles Leclerc at Ferrari from 2025. Image: Steve Etherington / LAT Images.

“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. 

“Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old.

“I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together.

“I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”

Despite his excitement, Hamilton also said that it was “one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make”, with the 39-year-old dissipating any form of relationship with the Brackley-based team for the first time in 17 years.

Hamilton will bring 18 years of experience when he joins Ferrari to partner Charles Leclerc next year, along with 7 championships and 197 podiums, with 103 of those trips to the podium seeing the #44 standing on the top step, and that’s all before the 2024 season kicks off. 

Lewis Hamilton won his 7th title in 2020, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record. Image: Andy Hone / LAT Images.

In a statement released by Mercedes, the team said: 

“The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season.

“Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows.

“The news brings an end to what is currently a 17-year long relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year long partnership with the works team.”

Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal and CEO, said “We knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come”. 

“In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. 

“We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. 

“But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”

Ferrari are already reaping the rewards of Hamilton’s global popularity, with Ferrari’s share prices jumping 10% to reach a record high on the New York Stock Exchange and their estimated market capitalisation up by almost $7 billion following the news. 

Lewis Hamilton and Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, have had a close relationship since the Champion’s GP2 days. Image: Steve Etherington / LAT Images.

The move does, however, leave Carlos Sainz without a seat for the 2025 season.

The Spaniard is an expected front-runner for a drive with newcomers, Audi in 2026, however, the #55 remains without a place on the grid next season. 

Suggestions that contract negotiations between Sainz and his team weren’t going as desired were a strong point of contention towards the end of last year, with the move doing a whole lot more than confirming that was the case.  

Sainz has earned many accolades with his dream team over their three-year stint together, claiming his first-ever victory at the British Grand Prix in 2022, albeit in an internally controversial fashion.

That same weekend, the Spaniard also claimed his maiden Pole position, something he went on to do on four other occasions while repping the prancing horse.

Last year, Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix, headlining one of the most exciting races of the season as he put on a strategic masterclass at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Carlos Sainz hailed victorious at the Singapore GP, sharing the podium with Hamilton. Image: Steven Tee / LAT Images.

Sainz said the “news about [his] future will be announced in due course”.

“Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024,” Sainz said via social media.

“We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the Team and for the Tifosi all around the world.”

The team are yet to issue a statement on Sainz’s departure.

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