British Driver Lewis Hamilton to Join Ferrari in 2025

British Driver Lewis Hamilton to Join Ferrari in 2025
Image copyright: Edward Berthelot/Contributor/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The Facts

  • Formula One star Lewis Hamilton is set to leave Mercedes for Ferrari on a multiyear contract after the 2024 season, the two motorsport teams confirmed Thursday.

  • Though describing his decision to leave Mercedes as "one of the hardest" of his life, Hamilton said it was the right time to take "on a new challenge." He will join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, replacing Spanish driver Carlos Sainz.


The Spin

Narrative A

Hamilton is at the twilight of his career, and, naturally, he couldn't ignore the lure of Ferrari — Formula One's most successful team by far in history. Having lost three back-to-back championships, a move to Ferrari could reignite his challenge for the record eighth title — which he had no real chance of winning at Mercedes.

Narrative B

Despite his poor run of late, Hamilton remains the biggest, most successful driver in F1. While, despite signing all-time greats like Fernando Alonso, Ferrari hasn't won a driver's championship in the past 15 years. The prestigious name in the sport needed F1's most decorated champion to end its drought rather than the other way around.

Narrative C

Hamilton's groundbreaking decision — less than a month from the start of the 2024 F1 season — not only deals a huge blow to Mercedes and leaves a gaping hole in its driver lineup for 2025, but it will likely trigger changes to other F1 teams' lineups. The move is ill-timed and doesn't guarantee success, considering Red Bull has dominated the sport over the past two seasons.


Articles on this story

Sign up to our daily newsletter