NEW DELHI: According to multiple media reports on Thursday, seven-time
Formula One
world champion
Lewis Hamilton
is reportedly poised for a surprising transition from
Mercedes
to
Ferrari
in 2025, stepping in as a replacement for Spanish driver Carlos Sainz.
Both Mercedes and Ferrari have refrained from commenting on the speculation surrounding what could potentially be the most sensational driver move of the 'silly season.'
Reports suggest that Mercedes principal
Toto Wolff
is expected to brief the team before a formal announcement later today, as per Sky Sports television.
Hamilton, who is currently 39 years old, has been associated with Mercedes since 2013, securing his first championship title with McLaren back in 2008. His existing contract is set to expire at the end of next year, and a switch to Ferrari would likely extend his tenure into the sport's new engine era starting in 2026.
Throughout his career, Hamilton has been periodically linked with a move to Maranello, especially during contract negotiations. However, he opted to sign a new two-year deal with Mercedes last August, demonstrating his loyalty to the team.
Despite this loyalty, Hamilton has maintained a close relationship with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur since their time together at the Frenchman's ART team, where Hamilton clinched Formula Three and GP2 (now Formula Two) championships in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Vasseur remarked last August that he regularly converses with Hamilton during race weekends, hinting at the ongoing connection between the two despite their separate professional paths.
In 2019, Wolff said Hamilton and Mercedes had discussed the possibility of the driver one day racing for Ferrari and such a move would be no drama.
"You have to simply acknowledge that probably it’s in every driver’s head to drive at Ferrari one day," the Austrian said then.
"It’s the most iconic, historic Formula One brand out there and I totally respect if a driver has the desire to drive at Ferrari.
"Even within the team we have discussed it and with Lewis we have discussed it and we have agreed on the topic."
Hamilton, widely regarded as the most successful Formula One driver of all time with a record 103 wins and 104 pole positions in his career that commenced in 2007, has faced a dry spell since December 2021.
Mercedes has struggled to keep pace with Red Bull and Max Verstappen, the current champion who has clinched the last three titles. As the 2024 season begins, Verstappen is considered the favorite for a fourth title, holding a contract until the end of 2028.
If reports are accurate, Hamilton would make a surprising move to Ferrari, joining Charles Leclerc, who recently committed to the Italian team for several more seasons. The announcement of Hamilton's potential shift comes on the heels of McLaren securing Lando Norris with a new deal.
For Hamilton, a move to Ferrari could mark the culmination of his Formula One career, representing a calculated risk given the upcoming 2026 rule changes that will usher everyone into uncharted territory.
Such a transition would position Hamilton alongside Leclerc and present the opportunity for a sensational eighth title, should it not materialize with Mercedes this season, making a significant mark as he navigates the challenge with a third team in his career.
(With Reuters inputs)
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