Lewis Hamilton offers fresh perspective on Mercedes exit and speaks out in..Read more

Lewis Hamilton offers fresh perspective on Mercedes exit and speaks out in new F1 book

Lewis Hamilton to Leave Mercedes for Ferrari at End of 2024 F1 Season, Explains His Decision in New Book

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that he will be leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, opting to join Ferrari in what will be a major shake-up in the sport. The seven-time world champion, who has spent the majority of his F1 career with the German manufacturer, opens up about his decision in his new book, Inside Mercedes F1. Speaking candidly with author Matt Whyman, Hamilton explains that while he remains “in love” with Mercedes, the move is a deeply personal one driven by his desire for new challenges and experiences.

Despite his deep connection with Mercedes, Hamilton reveals that he has no intention of leaving the team due to any issues or dissatisfaction. “I feel like I am ending a relationship that is perfectly fine,” Hamilton explains. “We are still in love. I have not lost faith in the team, I am just leaving for myself.” This decision, he says, is not driven by frustration or a sense of failure with Mercedes but rather by a childhood dream of racing for Ferrari—a team many aspiring motorsport fans dream of driving for.

The timing of the move is particularly significant, as Hamilton approaches the twilight of his illustrious career. Reflecting on his remaining years in Formula 1, Hamilton admits that he couldn’t ignore the thought of what might have been if he stayed at Mercedes for the remainder of his career. “I have only got a few years left,” Hamilton says. “I started thinking about how I would feel looking back on it all. I asked myself if I would be truly happy if I just stayed with the team rather than experiencing something different.”

Hamilton reveals that he spent the winter mulling over the decision, describing the period as a “heavy time.” Although the prospect of leaving a team with which he has had such monumental success is daunting, Hamilton’s passion for risk and new opportunities ultimately led him to the conclusion that he had to make the leap. “It has been a huge privilege and I genuinely love working with everyone,” he says of his time at Mercedes. “I also know moving is a big risk, but then I love risk. In the end, I just could not get it out of my head. I have got to try.”

The emotional toll of his decision is evident, particularly in his account of telling Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Hamilton admits that informing Wolff was one of the hardest meetings of his life, reflecting the deep bond the two share. He also faced the emotional difficulty of breaking the news to his close colleagues, including his long-time race engineer, Peter “Bono” Bonnington. The moment came during the build-up to the 2024 season, as Hamilton and his team were preparing for their annual paintballing event. In the book, Hamilton recounts how he struggled to find the words and was nervous to break the news. However, his teammates responded with understanding and positivity, offering their full support.

“It took me a while to even get out of the car because I didn’t know what to say,” Hamilton writes. “But when I did finally tell them, everyone was so kind, so understanding and so positive.” Despite the support, Hamilton acknowledges that the reality of his departure will hit him hard later in the season, as he prepares to leave the team that has been his home for so long. “I am committed to giving my all to this season,” he says, “but later this year I know there is a realisation that will hit me hard. I am not going to be visiting the factory anymore, or seeing my teammates who I adore.”

From the perspective of Mercedes, Wolff expressed mixed feelings upon hearing Hamilton’s decision. The team principal admits that while he had always known Hamilton might eventually leave, he never anticipated it would happen so soon, and certainly not before the team had fully recovered its competitive form. “I absolutely had it on my radar that Lewis would go, I just could not understand why he would change to another team before we knew if we were going to be competitive,” Wolff said. “It also did not give me any time to react.” This timing, Wolff believes, left him scrambling to manage other contracts, potentially missing out on discussions with drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris, who had already signed with other teams.

Despite the surprise, Wolff seems to accept the situation. “I like the situation,” he says. “It helps us because it avoids the moment where we need to tell the sport’s most iconic driver that we want to stop.” Wolff’s pragmatic response suggests that while Hamilton’s departure marks the end of an era for Mercedes, it also allows the team to look forward to new possibilities.

Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes after a dominant partnership that has included six world titles is undoubtedly one of the most significant moments in recent F1 history. His switch to Ferrari, a team with a rich history but more recent struggles, will undoubtedly have a major impact on both his career and the sport as a whole. For Hamilton, this move represents more than just a new team—it is about pursuing the fulfillment of a lifelong dream and the challenge of reinventing himself in the latter stages of his career. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely as Hamilton embarks on this bold new chapter.