Over two years since his last race win and having watched Verstappen pick up his third successive drivers’ title, racing is about to see one of the biggest switches in years as Lewis Hamilton, still eager to win, is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari in 2025. While he had only just signed a two year contract extension last summer, it appears that there was a one-year break clause in the deal which he has chosen to trigger, paving the way for him to leave with little to no recompense. But just what does this mean for Mercedes and Ferrari, and can Lewis Hamilton win F1, as he approaches 40 years old, with what appears to be his last major throw of the dice.
While the move itself has stirred controversy, it doesn’t appear to be one without merit. Mercedes have found it hard to catch up with Red Bull’s advancements, and when asking how many races has Lewis Hamilton won this season, a resounding 0 tells many all that they need to know. With seven World Championships to his name, equal to the great Michael Schumacher, and eager to try and land lucky number eight, the move to Ferrari could be seen as recognition that Mercedes will not help him secure it, so elsewhere was the only option.
For Mercedes, while they may choose to select internally in the form of Kimi Antonelli, perhaps a look to Alpine’s Esteban Ocon or William’s Alex Albon is also on the cards? Ocon was originally part of the Mercedes Junior team so knows the drill, while Albon has been consistently placing despite driving a far inferior car. While nobody has been announced yet, stay tuned to find out who will fill the void.
For Ferrari, Carlos Sainz Jr was already on his way out at the end of the season, so a space was open for Hamilton to slot in. While he we be partnering Charles Leclerc, a driver who has been openly vocal with the idea that anyone racing alongside Hamilton would be happy to have him, Ferrari have seen an immediate increase in their stock price of 14%, or $7 billion, so will likely be delighted at the prospects of having secured such a blockbuster signing.
The true reality of the switch is that nobody knows what will happen next. While Ferrari have not blown the competition away, signs of change are underway with Fred Vasseur as team principal there, as they finished just 3 points behind Mercedes in last season’s Championship. Couple that with the fact that in 2026, a new set of technical regulations are coming in, with the potential of upsetting the hierarchy once again. The last time a major change happened with Hamilton was in 2014, the year that he won a title, so perhaps history could repeat itself once again? For now, all that remains to be seen is what will happen in the 2024 Driver’s Championship, with Hamilton currently 3rd favourite, well behind Verstappen and Norris. Keep reading for more racing news and be sure to check out our latest F1 betting odds are the season continues.
