Ferrari confirmed that Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion and the most successful driver in Formula One history, will join the team in 2025 on a multi-year contract.
Hamilton will leave Mercedes, his team since 2013, after the 2024 season and replace Carlos Sainz, who will move to McLaren.
Hamilton, who has won 103 races and 101 pole positions, said he was excited and honored to join Ferrari, the most iconic and successful team in the sport. "It has always been a dream of mine to drive for Ferrari and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I have the utmost respect for Mercedes and everything we have achieved together, but I feel it is time for a new challenge and a new chapter in my career. I look forward to working with Charles Leclerc, who is a fantastic talent and a great teammate, and to help Ferrari return to the top of Formula One," Hamilton said in a statement.
Ferrari's team principal, Mattia Binotto, said he was delighted to welcome Hamilton to the team and praised his achievements and character. "Lewis is a legend of Formula One and a driver who has rewritten the history books of our sport. He is also a great person, who shares our values of passion, excellence and innovation. We are very happy to have him on board and we are confident that he will bring his experience, talent and leadership to our team. He will form a formidable partnership with Charles, who is one of the best young drivers in the sport and has a bright future ahead of him. Together, they will make Ferrari stronger and more competitive than ever," Binotto said.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari is a major shock for the Formula One world, as he has been loyal to Mercedes for 11 years and has won six of his seven titles with the team. However, Mercedes has struggled to keep up with Red Bull in the last two seasons, while Ferrari has shown signs of improvement and ambition. Hamilton reportedly had a release clause in his contract that allowed him to leave Mercedes after 2024 and he decided to activate it after talks with Ferrari's chairman, John Elkann, who has been a long-time admirer of Hamilton.
Hamilton's departure from Mercedes will leave a huge void in the team, which will have to find a replacement for the 2025 season. The most likely candidates are George Russell, who is currently driving for Williams and is a Mercedes junior driver, and Valtteri Bottas, who has been Hamilton's teammate since 2017 and is out of contract at the end of 2024. Mercedes' team boss, Toto Wolff, said he respected Hamilton's decision and wished him well for the future. "Lewis is a phenomenal driver and a great friend, and we are very sad to see him go. He has been an integral part of our team and our success, and we will always be grateful for his contribution and his loyalty. We understand his desire to seek a new challenge and we support him in his choice. We will now focus on finding the best possible replacement for him and on preparing for the 2025 season, which will be a new era for Formula One and for Mercedes," Wolff said.
Hamilton's switch to Ferrari will set up an intriguing battle for the 2025 title, as he will face his former team and his main rival, Max Verstappen, who is expected to stay with Red Bull. Hamilton and Verstappen have been locked in a fierce duel for the last two seasons, with Verstappen winning the 2023 and 2024 championships by narrow margins. Hamilton will also have to contend with his new teammate, Leclerc, who is widely regarded as one of the fastest and most aggressive drivers on the grid. Leclerc said he was looking forward to working with Hamilton and learning from him. "Lewis is an incredible driver and a true champion, and I am very happy to have him as my teammate. I think we will have a great relationship and a lot of fun together. I am sure we will push each other to the limit and help Ferrari achieve its goals. I have a lot of respect for Lewis and I can't wait to race with him and against him," Leclerc said.
Hamilton's arrival at Ferrari will also mark the end of Sainz's two-year stint with the team, which has been a mixed bag for the Spaniard. Sainz joined Ferrari in 2023 from McLaren, hoping to challenge for wins and podiums, but he has been overshadowed by Leclerc and has struggled to adapt to the car. Sainz has scored only one podium finish with Ferrari, a third place at the 2023 French Grand Prix, and has been outqualified by Leclerc 28 times out of 38. Sainz said he was disappointed to leave Ferrari but grateful for the opportunity and the support. "It has been an honor and a privilege to drive for Ferrari, the team I have always dreamed of. Unfortunately, things did not work out as we hoped and we did not achieve the results we wanted. I want to thank Ferrari for their trust and their kindness, and I wish them all the best for the future. I am now looking forward to joining McLaren, a team that I know very well and that I have a lot of affection for. I am confident that we can do great things together and I am excited for the next chapter of my career," Sainz said.
Sainz will return to McLaren in 2025, where he will replace Daniel Ricciardo, who has announced his retirement from Formula One at the end of 2024. Sainz drove for McLaren in 2019 and 2020, scoring two podiums and finishing sixth in the drivers' standings both years. He will partner Lando Norris, who has been with McLaren since 2019 and has established himself as one of the most consistent and popular drivers on the grid. McLaren's CEO, Zak Brown, said he was thrilled to have Sainz back and praised his performance and personality. "Carlos is a fantastic driver and a great guy, and we are delighted to welcome him back to McLaren. He did a superb job for us in 2019 and 2020, and we have always kept in touch with him and followed his progress. He has proven his speed, his skill and his maturity, and he will be a valuable asset for our team. He will form a strong and harmonious partnership with Lando, who has been outstanding for us and who has a bright future ahead of him. Together, they will help McLaren continue its upward trajectory and fight for the top positions in Formula One," Brown said.
The 2025 Formula One season will start on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and will feature 23 races, including the debut of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the return of the Turkish Grand Prix. The season will also see the introduction of new technical regulations, which are aimed at making the cars more aerodynamic, more sustainable and more competitive. The 2025 season will also be the first one under the new Concorde Agreement, which is a contract between the teams, the FIA and Formula One that governs the commercial and sporting aspects of the sport. The new agreement, which will run until 2030, is designed to ensure a more fair and balanced distribution of revenues, a more effective cost cap and a more democratic governance structure.
