Source: BBC Sports
According to BBC Sport's sources, Lewis Hamilton is reportedly close to a shocking transfer to Ferrari for the 2025 season. Many senior sources report that the seven-time champion and Ferrari have an agreement in place, which could be confirmed as soon as Thursday.
When the 2025 season rolls around, Ferrari would love to have Hamilton join Charles Leclerc. Although the 39-year-old appeared to have the option to depart after the 2024 season, he did sign a new two-year deal with Mercedes for 2025 and 2024 last summer.
Italian and Spanish media outlets speculated on Thursday that Hamilton could join Ferrari in 2025. Since then, BBC Sport has confirmed that this is, in fact, a plausible scenario.
Hamilton transferring to Ferrari has been the subject of sporadic speculation for quite some time. So far, these speculations have lacked substance; nevertheless, multiple sources indicate that this time is different. Both Mercedes and Ferrari have declined to comment.
Sources who spoke with BBC Sport have revealed that Toto Wolff, along with James Allison, the technical director, have organized a team briefing for Thursday at 14:00 GMT, inviting all members of the Mercedes team. It is highly probable that this is to declare Hamilton's departure.
The deal involving Hamilton has closed swiftly. After this season, Carlos Sainz's contract with Ferrari will expire, and the two teams were in talks to extend it. However, John Elkann, president of Ferrari, found out that Hamilton was a possibility and took action to get his signature. Having crossed paths socially multiple times in the past few years, the two are now friends.
After winning his seventh world championship in 2020, Hamilton extended his stay with Mercedes to thirteen years with a new two-year contract that he inked in August. In 2019, it was revealed that Ferrari had discussed the possibility of Hamilton, the reigning world champion at the time, joining them.
After the contentious 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which Max Verstappen defeated Hamilton due to a late-race safety car period that was operated by former FIA race director Michael Masi in violation of the rules, Red Bull has dominated the sport for the last two seasons. His determination to win his eighth championship and exact revenge for what he perceives as an injustice has consumed him ever since.
After two disappointing seasons, Hamilton seemed unsure that Mercedes could bounce back and compete with Red Bull at the end of last season.
He stated, "I do believe we have a North Star now" in an interview that was broadcast during the season-ending race in Abu Dhabi and was picked up by BBC Sport and other channels.
I can't believe we've had that in the past two years. However, there is no straight path to get there. We have a much better grasp of the vehicle now, in my opinion. They have built great tools behind the scenes. Because of this, I am naturally optimistic, but I will not be holding my breath.
Although Mercedes barely won the constructors' title last year, Ferrari finished the season with the faster vehicle, and both teams were locked in a race for second place.
Ferrari has also had a difficult few seasons. Just like when he left McLaren for Mercedes for the 2013 season, Hamilton's decision will cause shockwaves in Formula One.
Many questioned Hamilton's decision at the time, but it proved to be incredibly prophetic starting with the 2014 season, he and the team dominated Formula One, cementing Hamilton's position as the most successful driver in Formula One history.
Ferrari, the most iconic and historically significant team in the sport, captivates many drivers. Up until this point, Hamilton didn't seem to be affected by it; after all, he has expressed his desire to spend the rest of his life with Mercedes on multiple occasions, and the two have collaborated on numerous projects, particularly about diversity and racism and equality.
The opportunity to spend his last years racing for Ferrari, though, might be too tempting to pass up. Ayrton Senna, Hamilton's childhood hero, was also preparing to do this before he died in a crash in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix while driving for Williams.
In the wake of Hamilton's announcement, the market for Formula One drivers will boom. At the season's conclusion, Mercedes will be trying to find a driver to replace Hamilton, while Sainz will be seeking employment opportunities elsewhere.
None of the other highly regarded drivers, with the exception of Fernando Alonso, whose contract with Aston Martin expires this season, would be willing to join George Russell and Mercedes. A number of drivers have recently inked new contracts: Max Verstappen with Red Bull until 2027, Charles Leclerc with Ferrari, and Lando Norris with McLaren.
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