Official: Hamilton to leave Mercedes F1 after 2024
The pieces of the puzzle fall into place one after the other, and it now seems clear that Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025. Indeed, Mercedes F1 announced as expected this evening at 8 p.m. that the seven-time world champion would leave the team after the 2024 season, which will be his 12th at Brackley and confirmed he had “activated a risk” in his contract signed just a few months ago.
The announcement comes early, like Fernando Alonso at the end of 2005, announcing his departure to join McLaren in 2007. There is therefore a full season left for Hamilton and Mercedes to properly finish their story together.
However, it also sends a possibly worrying signal for Mercedes, as one can imagine that Hamilton would have stayed if the W15 had shown promise in the simulator and in simulations by computer data.
For Mercedes, this leaves a year of reflection before finding a teammate in George Russell for 2025. We can consider the Esteban Ocon track, since the manufacturer recently recalled that he is still managing his career. The names of Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher and even Alex Albon, linked to one of Mercedes’ customers, will certainly come up regularly in discussions.
“I have had an incredible 11 years with this team and I am very proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been a part of my life since I was 13. It is a place where I grew up,” Hamilton comments.
“So making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. But the time has come for me to take this step and I’m excited to take on a new challenge. I’ll be forever grateful for the incredible support of the Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and management and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance conceivable this season and making my final year with the Silver Arrows one to remember.”
Toto Wolff, team principal and CEO, adds: “In terms of a team-driver duo, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that is something we can look back on with pride.”
“Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes sports car history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now arrived. We accept Lewis’ decision to seek a new challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to consider. But looking forward, we still have one season left and we are focused on the direction to deliver a strong 2024.”
We now have to wait for Ferrari’s press release, probably in the evening.
