Mercedes to Ferrari: Hamilton’s Sudden Shift!
Lewis Hamilton, one of the most sparkling star of the F1 racing has made some shocking announcement on Thursday, 1st December 2024. Stunning the entire Formula 1 fraternity, he declares his exit from Mercedes after the 2024 and his entry into the Ferrari Team in 2025.
Despite Lewis’ signature on the 2-year contract with Mercedes he recently renewed in August, the Seven-time world champion in ‘one of the hardest decisions he ever had to make’ leverages the escape clause in the document.
Hamilton heartfeltly recollects the ‘amazing 11 years’ he had with the Mercedes Franchise, which he’d joined since he was merely 13 years old. It is, in this Team, that Lewis rose to fame after climbing podiums after podiums to lead the leaderboard.
‘Time’s right for this change’
The 39-year old British racer cherishes the illustrious career at Mercedes that he joined after leaving McLaren in 2013 and boasts of winning 6 of the 7 records coming from representing the Silver Arrow in the last 12 seasons.
This news comes as a stagger for the motorsport’s fans since it concludes Hamilton’s decade old bond with the Mercedes Franchise. Everyone is left wondering the reasons behind this unexpected shift.
‘But the time is right to take this step’ says Lewis after the appalling statement. He is excited for the new challenge as he replaces Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
Secret Reasons behind the Decision
There are a lot of speculations on the reasons behind this significant and sudden shift. Some believe that it was Mercedes’ new automobile being inadequate to take on the dazzling Red Bull in the last race.
Despite the class of the Mercedes, they struggled to keep abreast with their counterparts in the Formula 1, especially that of Max Verstappen and Red Bull. Hamilton is winless since 2021.
There had been brewing tensions among the drivers and the authorities at the franchise as Loic Serra, Head of Vehicle Performance at Mercedes clashed with the technical team regarding decisions related to the wheelbase and floor in a few recent projects.
Soon, Serra was recruited by the Ferrari team.
Hamilton and Mercedes’ Clash
Hamilton too had his issues with the 2022-spec car, about which he had been pretty loud about. In the 2023 season, Hamilton admittedly told the Team of the troubles with the car. ‘I’ve driven cars in my life, so I know what a car needs’.
He was unsatisfied with how the Team welcomed his commentary and expected some accountability and responsibility from the Mercedes Franchise.
Serra’s departure could be an inspiration for his decision, suspect some theories.
Ferrari is the Fitter Future?
Another explanation, driving Lewis to this resolution could be the opportunity of working with Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s head. Vasseur played a pivotal role in Hamilton’s early days in the career and The Billion Dollar Man’s entry to Ferrari could be a ‘poetic and special.’ gesture to him.
He also shares an affable camaraderie with the Ferrari President, John Elkann, whom he met a few years ago at an event in Italy where their friendship bloomed.
Interestingly, before Lewis joined Mercedes, he was approached by Ferrari.
Ferrari Team officially announced and welcomed the legendary British racer in their club on a ‘multi-year contract‘ from 2025.
The 2024 F1 season starts in March with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
