Hamilton completes Mercedes agreement but Ferrari debut has been postponed due to…read more
Lewis Hamilton has officially completed his agreement with Mercedes, but his highly anticipated move to Ferrari has been delayed until pre-season testing for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Although Hamilton was expected to join Ferrari after the 2024 campaign, his transition will now take place at the start of the 2025 season due to remaining commitments with Mercedes.
Hamilton’s final race with Mercedes was at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he impressively finished fourth after starting from 16th. This race marked the end of his 12-year stint with the team, during which he won six Drivers’ Championships and Mercedes claimed eight Constructors’ titles, making them one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1 history.
Although long speculated, Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari was initially set for 2025, but it will now be delayed until the pre-season tests. This means he will not take part in the post-season Abu Dhabi tyre tests, where other drivers like Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Nico Hülkenberg will be familiarizing themselves with new teams. Instead, Hamilton will complete his remaining obligations with Mercedes, including sponsor events, one of which took him to Kuala Lumpur, where he thanked both Mercedes and his fans for their support.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained that Ferrari did not request an early release from Hamilton’s contract, and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur chose to adhere to the original timeline. This decision means Hamilton will miss valuable pre-season testing, but Ferrari remains confident in his ability to lead them to success.
At 39 years old, Hamilton is eager for a fresh challenge with Ferrari, aiming for a record-breaking eighth World Championship. Ferrari hopes his experience will help them return to the top, and fans eagerly await his debut with the Scuderia in 2025.
