Breaking: Hamilton completes Mercedes agreement but Ferrari debut has been postponed due to…read more
Hamilton completes Mercedes agreement but Ferrari debut has been postponed due to…read more
Lewis Hamilton has finalized his agreement with Mercedes, but his highly anticipated move to Ferrari has been delayed due to remaining obligations with his current team. Hamilton’s final race with Mercedes took place at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he delivered an impressive performance, finishing fourth after starting from 16th on the grid. This marked the conclusion of a remarkable 12-season partnership with Mercedes, during which Hamilton secured six Drivers’ Championships and helped the team win eight Constructors’ Championships—making it the most successful driver-team collaboration in Formula 1 history.
Hamilton’s highly awaited switch to Ferrari is now set for 2025, where he aims to win a record-breaking eighth World Championship before retiring. However, his debut with Ferrari will be delayed until the pre-season tests for the 2025 F1 season. This means Hamilton will miss the post-season tyre test in Abu Dhabi, where other drivers, such as Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Nico Hülkenberg, were getting familiar with their new teams. Instead of participating in the test, Hamilton fulfilled his final commitments with Mercedes, including attending a sponsor event in Malaysia.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained that the delay in Hamilton’s Ferrari move occurred because Ferrari did not request an early release from Hamilton’s contract. Wolff revealed that Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, had not asked for Hamilton to leave Mercedes ahead of schedule, which contributed to the delay of his switch to Ferrari. While other drivers took part in the post-season test, Hamilton attended the event in Kuala Lumpur and used Instagram to express his gratitude to Mercedes and its fans for the years of support.
The 2024 season proved to be a tough one for the 39-year-old Hamilton, who has since expressed his desire for a break after the challenging year. However, before he could rest, he had to complete his final duties with Mercedes. His departure signifies the end of an era for the team, as Hamilton was a cornerstone of their dominance in recent years. His move to Ferrari marks the beginning of a new chapter, where he hopes to add another championship to his already impressive resume.
Ferrari’s Vasseur will be counting on Hamilton’s vast experience and skill to help the team return to title contention. While Hamilton’s Ferrari debut is postponed, all eyes will now be on the 2025 season, when he will aim to secure his eighth World Championship with the Scuderia.
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