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 officially completed his agreement with Mercedes, but his much-anticipated debut for Ferrari has been postponed due to his remaining obligations with his current team. Although Hamilton was expected to join Ferrari immediately after the 2024 season, his transition will now be delayed until pre-season testing for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign.

Hamilton’s final race for Mercedes took place at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he delivered a stellar performance, finishing in fourth place after starting from a challenging 16th on the grid. This race marked the conclusion of a remarkable 12-year stint with Mercedes, a partnership that produced some of the most dominant years in the history of Formula 1. Over the course of their time together, Hamilton won six Drivers’ Championships, while Mercedes secured eight Constructors’ titles, solidifying their place as one of the most successful driver-team pairings in the sport’s history.

The seven-time world champion had long been linked with a move to Ferrari, and it was widely expected that Hamilton would switch teams ahead of the 2025 season. However, his debut with the iconic Italian team has been delayed until pre-season testing begins in early 2025. This means Hamilton will not participate in the post-season tyre tests in Abu Dhabi, where drivers like Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, and Nico Hülkenberg are getting acclimated to their new teams for the upcoming year.

Instead of taking part in these tests, Hamilton will be fulfilling his final duties with Mercedes, including attending sponsor events. One of these events saw the British driver travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he participated in a major sponsor engagement. Hamilton took to social media, specifically Instagram, to thank Mercedes and his loyal fans for their unwavering support throughout his time with the team. His farewell message signaled the end of an era for Mercedes, where Hamilton had become an integral figure in their dominance.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff shed some light on the reasons behind the delay in Hamilton’s Ferrari debut. According to Wolff, Ferrari did not request an early release from Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes, which would have allowed the British driver to start working with the Scuderia sooner. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur opted not to push for an earlier switch, preferring to stick to the original timeline. This decision means Hamilton will miss valuable testing time before his first season with Ferrari, but the Scuderia remains optimistic that his experience will help them contend for championships.

The 2024 season was a difficult one for Hamilton, both on and off the track. At 39 years old, the British driver has indicated that he is ready for a break after enduring a challenging campaign. Despite the struggles, Hamilton’s competitive drive remains intact, and he is focused on returning to the grid in 2025 with Ferrari, where his goal is to win a record-breaking eighth Drivers’ Championship.

Ferrari has high hopes that Hamilton’s vast experience and unparalleled talent will help the team return to the forefront of the championship battle. Vasseur will be relying on Hamilton’s expertise to steer the team back to the top after several seasons of missed opportunities. While fans will have to wait a little longer to see Hamilton in Ferrari red, anticipation is already building for the 2025 season.

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari not only marks the beginning of a new chapter for his career but also signals a shift in Formula 1’s competitive landscape. All eyes will be on Hamilton and Ferrari as they work together to achieve their mutual goal: securing the coveted eighth World Championship title that would make Hamilton the most decorated driver in the history of the sport.