As of: February 2, 2024, 9:40 a.m
By: Luca Hartmann, Christoph Klaucke
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Lewis Hamilton is moving from Mercedes to Ferrari within Formula 1.
But who has to make room for the record world champion at the Scuderia?
Update from February 2nd, 9:40 a.m.:
Lewis Hamilton is moving to Ferrari in 2025.
But who has to vacate the cockpit for the Brit at Scuderia?
Carlos Sainz will leave the racing team after the coming season and make way for Hamilton.
The Spaniard wants to give his “absolute best” in his last season for Ferrari, regardless of the involuntary end at Scuderia.
The 29-year-old promised this on Thursday via X, formerly Twitter.
For Sainz it's over after four years at Ferrari.
Charles Leclerc, whose contract was recently renewed for the long term, will drive at Hamilton's side.
There is a long season ahead of them, wrote Sainz, who has so far managed two victories in the Ferrari.
He wants to give his all again for the team and the Tifosi all over the world.
Sainz emphasized that news about his future would be published in due course.
He moved from McLaren to the traditional Italian team for the 2021 season.
Sensational change in Formula 1 confirmed: Lewis Hamilton will drive for Ferrari from 2025
Update from February 1st, 8:13 p.m.:
Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 switch from Mercedes to Ferrari is perfect!
On Thursday evening, Ferrari confirmed the Formula 1 record world champion's move to Scuderia for the 2025 season. The seven-time champion had signed a contract for several years, the Italian racing team announced.
Shortly before, Mercedes had announced the end of the collaboration with Hamilton after this season.
Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari next year; the Spaniard's contract expires at the end of 2024.
The Brit's teammate is Ferrari pupil Charles Leclerc, whose working paper was only extended last week.
Hamilton only extended his contract with Mercedes until the end of 2025 last year.
Now he is using an exit clause to join Ferrari.
Formula 1 hammer perfect: Hamilton switches from Mercedes to Ferrari
“I have had eleven fantastic years with this team and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” said Hamilton, according to Mercedes' statement, and spoke of one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make.
“But the time is ripe for me to take this step and I am looking forward to taking on a new challenge.” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff explained: “We accept Lewis' decision to take on a new challenge and offer it to us At the same time, there are exciting possibilities for the future.”
First report from February 1st, 12:12 p.m.:
Munich – That would be a real hammer in Formula 1: According to media reports, Lewis Hamilton is apparently about to make a sensational move from Mercedes to Ferrari.
This means that the Briton could possibly become the sole record world champion in the Ferrari, in which Michael Schumacher won five of his seven world championship titles.
Lewis Hamilton is apparently about to move from Mercedes to Ferrari
Hamilton could leave Mercedes after the coming season, which starts with the race in Bahrain at the beginning of March, and move to Ferrari in 2025.
This was reported on Thursday by the English specialist magazine Autosport
, among others
.
A decision on Hamilton's future in Formula 1 is expected shortly.
It is not yet clear whether a contract has already been signed, the magazine reported.
However, the negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage and could be completed by the end of this week.
According to the BBC, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has announced a meeting with the workforce for this Thursday at 3 p.m. German time.
This is supposedly about saying goodbye to Hamilton.
Lewis Hamilton is apparently saying goodbye to Mercedes and is about to move to Ferrari.
© Jakub Porzycki/Imago
Hamilton move to Ferrari?
Record world champion has just extended his contract with Mercedes
The news of an impending change always comes as a surprise, after all Mercedes had only extended the contracts with the two Brits Hamilton and teammate George Russell until the end of 2025 last August.
According to
Dailymail
, the 39-year-old should have an exit clause.
Since Hamilton's defeat on the last lap in the 2021 season finale, Max Verstappen has dominated Formula 1 with Red Bull. Hamilton, with the Silver Arrows since 2013, and Mercedes only drive in their shadow.
Speculation about Hamilton's move to Ferrari continues
There have been repeated speculations about Hamilton's possible move to Ferrari in recent years.
If the case actually occurs, Hamilton would drive alongside Monegasque Charles Leclerc from 2025, who had only signed a long-term contract at the beginning of the year and is actually the clear number one for the Italians.
The current second Ferrari driver is the Spaniard Carlos Sainz, whose contract expires at the end of the year.
(ck/dpa)