Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton revealed that he would be joining Ferrari on a multi-year deal starting in the 2025 season, bringing an end to his illustrious run with Mercedes. The British driver has earned six of his record-tying seven World Championships with the team, along with becoming the first driver to surpass 100 Grand Prix wins and pole positions since joining McLaren in 2013.
Following two winless seasons in 2022 and 2023, Hamilton has bounced back in 2024, securing heartfelt victories at Silverstone and Spa, marking a strong return to form. The latter part of the season has been challenging for Hamilton, with his best result since the summer break being no higher than fourth place.
In Brazil, his campaign hit a new low as he failed to make it into Q3 for both the sprint and the main race, ultimately finishing 10th—27 seconds behind teammate George Russell, who secured fourth. After the race, Hamilton expressed his frustration on the team radio, calling the Mercedes W15 “the worst the car’s ever been.”
“That was a disaster of a weekend guys,” Hamilton said. “That’s the worst the car has ever been but thank you for continuing to try, great job to all the guys at the pit stop.
🚨| Sky Sports just released a much clearer version of Sir Lewis Hamilton's post race radio :
"If this is the last time that i get to perform, its a shame it wasn't great, but grateful for you."#F1 || #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/5hh6PAs4ql
— sim (@sim3744) November 4, 2024
The former Mclaren man further fueled speculation about his immediate future by stating that he is “looking forward to Christmas” as the season nears its end, suggesting he may have already mentally moved on from the remainder of the F1 2024 campaign.
However, Hamilton hinted that he intends to stay for the final three races, adding, “If they provide me with a car that stays on the track in the upcoming races, we should be able to achieve a better result.”
The initial message was likely for the particular pit crew whose season ended at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Mercedes have implemented a rotation system for their pit crew to cope with the demands of the 24-race F1 2024 season, and Hamilton is set to work with an alternate crew for the final triple-header in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Amid rumors circulating online, there have been suggestions that Hamilton might leave his seat before the Las Vegas Grand Prix to allow his 2025 replacement, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, to gain crucial experience ahead of his debut season. However, Slater has firmly stated that Hamilton will complete the full season with Mercedes before making his move to Ferrari.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
