Lewis Hamilton is just some weeks away from making the extremely anticipated change from Mercedes to Ferrari, as his transfer to the Maranello group attracts close to.
The seven-time world champion is ready to affix Ferrari in 2025, the place he’ll group up with Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton has secured a profitable £39 million-per-year contract with Ferrari that runs via to 2026, with an possibility for a further yr, as he goals to safe a record-breaking eighth World Championship.
Hamilton will likely be changing Carlos Sainz, with the announcement of his switch coming even earlier than both driver had stepped into their 2024 automobiles in February. Carlos Sainz will likely be shifting to Williams subsequent season, the place he’ll associate with Alex Albon.
Each Hamilton and Sainz have lately bid their farewells to their respective groups in preparation for his or her 2025 strikes. Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was marked with a particular night on the group’s Brackley manufacturing facility, the place hundreds of followers and group personnel gathered to rejoice his contributions and need him effectively for the following section of his profession.
After 4 years at Ferrari, Sainz was given a memorable farewell by the Scuderia, as he and his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., drove the 2022 F1-75 automobiles round Ferrari’s Fiorano take a look at monitor in a heartfelt gesture from the group.
Lewis Hamilton Engages within the Identical ‘Secret Conferences’ as Carlos Sainz Earlier than Becoming a member of Ferrari
The Spanish driver has already had the possibility to check with Williams on the post-season take a look at in Abu Dhabi, the place he recorded the second-fastest time behind Leclerc.
Though it was prompt that Hamilton may additionally take part in the identical take a look at with Ferrari, Mercedes blocked him from doing in order he’s nonetheless underneath contract till the tip of the yr.
Since Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract doesn’t kick in till January, he’s anticipated to finish a take a look at session at Ferrari’s Fiorano Circuit earlier than the beginning of pre-season testing in February. Though the beginning of his official collaboration with the group appears a way off, experiences from the Italian information web site AutoRacer counsel that the 2 events have already had some preliminary conferences.
In accordance with the report, Lewis Hamilton has already made a “non-public go to to Maranello” forward of his 2025 transfer. These “secret conferences” echo those who Carlos Sainz had with Ferrari earlier than his personal switch in 2021, when he was nonetheless underneath contract with McLaren. The British driver’s go to highlights his eagerness to start this new chapter of his profession and his sturdy want to stand up to hurry with Ferrari as rapidly as attainable.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes Farewell Season Didn’t Go as Deliberate
The outstanding partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes, arguably probably the most profitable in Method 1 historical past, will come to an finish after 12 memorable years. Sadly, the seven-time Method 1 world champion’s remaining F1 marketing campaign with Mercedes didn’t unfold in the way in which he had hoped. All through 2024, the Brit struggled to search out consistency along with his Mercedes equipment, because the W15 automotive proved to be unpredictable and troublesome to deal with. Considered one of Lewis Hamilton’s key challenges was qualifying, the place he was eradicated 4 occasions in Q1. The 39-year-old driver was typically seen visibly annoyed along with his automotive and his performances, incessantly criticizing himself and expressing doubts about his pace.
Method 1 commentator Justin Bell has prompt that Lewis Hamilton must shake off these self-critical ideas and strategy his time with Ferrari with a contemporary mindset, permitting him to showcase his simple expertise to the world as soon as once more.
Regardless of the struggles, Lewis Hamilton did handle to ship moments of brilliance all through the season, at the same time as he recorded his lowest profession end within the standings, putting seventh. He secured two race victories—his first wins since 2021—and produced a outstanding drive from sixteenth on the grid to complete fourth in his remaining race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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