Lewis Hamilton is just some weeks away from making the extremely anticipated change from Mercedes to Ferrari, as his transfer to the Maranello staff attracts close to.
The seven-time world champion is ready to affix Ferrari in 2025, the place he’ll staff up with Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton has secured a profitable £39 million-per-year contract with Ferrari that runs by way of to 2026, with an choice for an extra 12 months, as he goals to safe a record-breaking eighth World Championship.
Hamilton can be changing Carlos Sainz, with the announcement of his switch coming even earlier than both driver had stepped into their 2024 automobiles in February. Carlos Sainz can be transferring to Williams subsequent season, the place he’ll companion with Alex Albon.
Each Hamilton and Sainz have lately bid their farewells to their respective groups in preparation for his or her 2025 strikes. Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was marked with a particular night on the staff’s Brackley manufacturing unit, the place 1000’s of followers and staff personnel gathered to rejoice his contributions and want him properly for the subsequent part of his profession.
After 4 years at Ferrari, Sainz was given a memorable farewell by the Scuderia, as he and his father, Carlos Sainz Sr., drove the 2022 F1-75 automobiles round Ferrari’s Fiorano check monitor in a heartfelt gesture from the staff.
Lewis Hamilton Engages within the Identical ‘Secret Conferences’ as Carlos Sainz Earlier than Becoming a member of Ferrari
The Spanish driver has already had the prospect to check with Williams on the post-season check in Abu Dhabi, the place he recorded the second-fastest time behind Leclerc.
Though it was advised that Hamilton may additionally take part in the identical check with Ferrari, Mercedes blocked him from doing in order he’s nonetheless below contract till the tip of the 12 months.
Since Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari contract doesn’t kick in till January, he’s anticipated to finish a check session at Ferrari’s Fiorano Circuit earlier than the beginning of pre-season testing in February. Though the beginning of his official collaboration with the staff appears a way off, experiences from the Italian information web site AutoRacer counsel that the 2 events have already had some preliminary conferences.
In keeping with the report, Lewis Hamilton has already made a “personal go to to Maranello” forward of his 2025 transfer. These “secret conferences” echo people who Carlos Sainz had with Ferrari earlier than his personal switch in 2021, when he was nonetheless below contract with McLaren. The British driver’s go to highlights his eagerness to start this new chapter of his profession and his robust want to rise up to hurry with Ferrari as rapidly as doable.
Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes Farewell Season Didn’t Go as Deliberate
The outstanding partnership between Hamilton and Mercedes, arguably essentially the most profitable in Components 1 historical past, will come to an finish after 12 memorable years. Sadly, the seven-time Components 1 world champion’s ultimate F1 marketing campaign with Mercedes didn’t unfold in the way in which he had hoped. All through 2024, the Brit struggled to seek out consistency along with his Mercedes equipment, because the W15 automobile proved to be unpredictable and troublesome to deal with. One in all Lewis Hamilton’s key challenges was qualifying, the place he was eradicated 4 instances in Q1. The 39-year-old driver was typically seen visibly pissed off along with his automobile and his performances, ceaselessly criticizing himself and expressing doubts about his pace.
Components 1 commentator Justin Bell has advised that Lewis Hamilton must shake off these self-critical ideas and strategy his time with Ferrari with a contemporary mindset, permitting him to showcase his plain expertise to the world as soon as once more.
Regardless of the struggles, Lewis Hamilton did handle to ship moments of brilliance all through the season, at the same time as he recorded his lowest profession end within the standings, putting seventh. He secured two race victories—his first wins since 2021—and produced a outstanding drive from sixteenth on the grid to complete fourth in his ultimate race with Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
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