Lewis Hamilton will be fulfilling a “childhood dream” once he makes the move to Ferrari next year, the seven-time Formula One champion said Saturday in his first comments since an announcement indicating he would leave Mercedes, where he became one of F1’s most successful drivers over 11 years.
Hamilton has won a record-tying seven Formula One championships, including six while driving for ... [+]
Hamilton, 39, said he felt “incredibly fortunate” after a successful 11-year run with Mercedes “that I could have only dreamed of as a kid,” adding he now has “the chance to fulfill another childhood dream” of driving with Scuderia Ferrari.
Though the “time is right” to make a change to “take on a new challenge,” Hamilton said Mercedes had been a “huge part” of his life since age 13, adding a decision to leave the Mercedes team was “the hardest I’ve ever had to make.”
Because the move won’t happen until next year, Hamilton noted he was still “100% committed” to Mercedes through 2024 so he can “end my partnership with the team on a high.”
103. That’s how many Formula One Grand Prix Hamilton has won, the most by any driver in F1 history. He’s also tied for the most World Drivers’ Championships with Michael Schumacher at seven.
103. That’s how many Formula One Grand Prix Hamilton has won, the most by any driver in F1 history. He’s also tied for the most World Drivers’ Championships with Michael Schumacher at seven.
Hamilton opened his Formula One career with McLaren in 2007 and became the then-youngest ever to win a world championship in 2008. He made the move to Mercedes in 2013, and subsequently won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 before winning four straight from 2017 through 2020. Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes announced earlier this week Hamilton had signed a multi-year contract with Ferrari starting in 2025. The move is expected to help both Hamilton—who has not won a race since December 2021—and Ferrari, which hasn’t won a racing championship since 2008, get back on a winning path. Hamilton joins Monégasque driver Charles Leclerc, while Ferrari’s second driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., will be without a seat for 2025 as his contract expires at the end of the 2024 season. Leclerc signed an extension last month with Ferrari for “beyond” 2024.
Lewis Hamilton Leaving Mercedes For Ferrari In 2025 In Bombshell F1 Move (Forbes)