Lewis Hamilton is only a few 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 by way of to 2026, with an choice for a further yr, as he goals to safe a record-breaking eighth World Championship.
Hamilton will probably be changing Carlos Sainz, with the announcement of his switch coming even earlier than both driver had stepped into their 2024 vehicles in February. Carlos Sainz will probably be transferring to Williams subsequent season, the place he’ll companion with Alex Albon.
Each Hamilton and Sainz have not too long ago 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 1000’s of followers and group personnel gathered to rejoice his contributions and want him effectively for the subsequent part 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 vehicles 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 prospect 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 also take part in the identical take a look at with Ferrari, Mercedes blocked him from doing in order he’s nonetheless beneath 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, reviews from the Italian information web site AutoRacer counsel that the 2 events have already had some preliminary conferences.
In response to the report, Lewis Hamilton has already made a “non-public go to to Maranello” forward of his 2025 transfer. These “secret conferences” echo people who Carlos Sainz had with Ferrari earlier than his personal switch in 2021, when he was nonetheless beneath 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 rise up to hurry with Ferrari as rapidly as doable.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes Farewell Season Didn’t Go as Deliberate
The exceptional partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes, arguably essentially the most profitable in Components 1 historical past, will come to an finish after 12 memorable years. Sadly, the seven-time Components 1 world champion’s ultimate F1 marketing campaign with Mercedes didn’t unfold in the best way he had hoped. All through 2024, the Brit struggled to search out consistency along with his Mercedes equipment, because the W15 automobile 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 instances in Q1. The 39-year-old driver was usually seen visibly annoyed along with his automobile and his performances, incessantly criticizing himself and expressing doubts about his velocity.
Components 1 commentator Justin Bell has prompt that Lewis Hamilton must shake off these self-critical ideas and method his time with Ferrari with a contemporary mindset, permitting him to showcase his plain 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, inserting seventh. He secured two race victories—his first wins since 2021—and produced a exceptional drive from sixteenth on the grid to complete fourth in his ultimate race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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