Racing for Ferrari fulfils a childhood dream, says Formula One star Lewis Hamilton
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton stunned Formula One when it was announced on Feb 1 that he would be joining Ferrari.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LONDON – Lewis Hamilton said his “childhood dream” to race for Ferrari fuelled his bombshell decision to agree to join the Italian team in 2025.
Hamilton, a seven-time Formula One world champion, will leave Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season
The 39-year-old had signed a new two-year deal with Mercedes worth £100 million (S$169.7 million) in August. But on Feb 1 he activated a break clause to seal his move after admitting the prospect of “driving in Ferrari red” was too hard to turn down.
“It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions,” Hamilton said in a statement posted on his social media channels.
“But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.
“I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.
“Mercedes has been a huge part of my life since I was 13 years old, so this decision has been the hardest I’ve ever had to make.”
Hamilton won his first world title with McLaren in 2008 and the other six with Mercedes during a seven-year period from 2014 to 2020.
But the British driver has struggled to match Red Bull rival Max Verstappen since he missed out on what would have been a record eighth championship in 2021 in controversial fashion.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insisted on Feb 2 he had no concerns over Hamilton’s integrity ahead of his final season.
And Hamilton made clear his respect for Wolff and the team, as he said: “I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved together and I’m very grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone I have worked with over the years and of course Toto, for his friendship, guidance and leadership.
“Together we have won titles, broken records and become the most successful driver-team partnership in F1 history.
“But the time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge. I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013.
“I know some people didn’t understand it at the time but I was right to make the move then and it’s the feeling I have again now.”
Pledging to bow out on a high note with Mercedes, Hamilton added: “I am 100 per cent committed to the job I need to do and determined to end my partnership with the team on a high.”
Wolff, meanwhile, said Mercedes could opt for a bold choice of replacement.
The Austrian said Hamilton’s decision had come too late for them to look at some obvious contenders, with McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc signing new contracts in December.
But there are still plenty of options, with more than half the grid currently out of contract at the end of 2024.
Having race winner George Russell under contract also made the decision on the second seat “much more comfortable” and very different to 2016, when Nico Rosberg stunned F1 by retiring days after winning the title for Mercedes.
“Maybe it’s a chance to do something bold,” suggested Wolff, who said Russell had the potential to be the team’s next big driver after “going to-to-toe” with Hamilton. AFP, REUTERS
