End of an era in F1: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-AMG Petronas to part ways

Image credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas

Seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, Formula One’s most successful driver of all time, will race for Ferrari from 2025 after activating a release option in the Mercedes contract he signed in August.

The news first reported by the UK broadcaster BBC, was confirmed by Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, on Thursday evening.

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS confirms Hamilton departure

Mercedes in its statements confirmed that the F1 team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season.

The statement added that “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.”

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 year.

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) February 1, 2024

Hamilton’s move comes after a disappointing season that saw his F1 team miss the podium on most occasions, and the team barely managed to win the Constructor’s championship. While the partnership between the British driver and Silver Arrows has been one of the most successful pairings in motor-racing history, Hamilton said that he wanted to explore a new challenge.

Hamilton added, “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. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.”

“But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. 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 per cent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”

2025

After leaving Mercedes, Hamilton will head to the Ferrari paddock in 2025, following in the footsteps of legendary drivers such as Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. The transfer was confirmed by Scuderria Ferrari. Hamilton will replace Spaniard Carlos Sainz in the lineup.

Team Statement

Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/moEMqUgzXH

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) February 1, 2024

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 were already looking towards the future when they replaced Valtteri Bottas with George Russell at the start of 2023 and the contract with Hamilton was signed for just two years with the option to exit. Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO, commented: “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.”

“However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come. 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.”

With such a historic transfer, the F1 sport is likely to see a shakeup in multiple teams as Mercedes will look to fill a spot and Sainz up for grabs.

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