Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025 [UPDATE: news confirmed]

[dfox]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Lewis must know something...Insider information, like when he jumped ship for MB

Or, he just wants to look good in a red car before heading out the door.

This, imo.

Just like Charles says, it's a huge honor to be at Ferrari. The heritage and all, just spectacular to be known as a F1 Ferrari driver. Seemed like Carlos took it for granted, they probably didn't like that he was already talking about jumping ship to Audi so they wanted to find a way to give him the boot.

[G30M]

$$$ and fast cars for retirement. who wouldn't!

[Killed by Death]

Maybe someone told him the new '25 engine smelled like strawberries

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by Roman

*Alonso has entered the chat*

I would remind you of the younger driver he is teammates with. If you drop him right now into RB, Ferrari, Mercedes and McClaren- it wouldn’t go the way of him vs Stroll.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by dfox

This, imo.

Just like Charles says, it's a huge honor to be at Ferrari. The heritage and all, just spectacular to be known as a F1 Ferrari driver. Seemed like Carlos took it for granted, they probably didn't like that he was already talking about jumping ship to Audi so they wanted to find a way to give him the boot.

The Ferrari clown strategy screwed Sainz just too hard...

I can hear the 'Italian Ferrari pitwall strategy already for LEW :

Ferrari : BOX...BOX...BOX ! But not yet !
LEW : Guys WTF ? What ? When ?
Ferrari : We'll come back to you ...
LEW : It feels like my rear end gets looser !
Ferrari : Bellissima ! Mama Mia ! Santissima Vergine Maria !
LEW : I don't know man .That sounds like a pizza to me , man WTF ! I need 4 FKN new tires ASAP.
Ferrari : Please wait ...............We are looking !

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Maybe someone told him the new '25 engine smelled like strawberries

Well, I'm pretty sure Charlie knows more about that !

[M3WC]

How many of the newb Merc F1 fans were really just Lewis fanboys? They are likely already shopping for Ferrari merch.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by g21

$$$ and fast cars for retirement. who wouldn't!

Don't think he cares about their street cars, unless Ferrari have an all-electric in the next 3 years.

Hamilton:
"Since then, I have offset my carbon footprint from my Formula 1 career dating back to 2007, I have reduced travel where possible, I have gone plant-based and outside of the track, I try to use electric cars wherever possible."

[G30M]

Originally Posted by M3WC

Don't think he cares about their street cars, unless Ferrari have an all-electric in the next 3 years.

Hamilton:
"Since then, I have offset my carbon footprint from my Formula 1 career dating back to 2007, I have reduced travel where possible, I have gone plant-based and outside of the track, I try to use electric cars wherever possible."

I don't believe him. don't believe Vettel either lol.

Maybe he can give me his 296 ...

[Roman]

Originally Posted by E92inNC

I would remind you of the younger driver he is teammates with. If you drop him right now into RB, Ferrari, Mercedes and McClaren- it wouldn’t go the way of him vs Stroll.

Don't ruin my humor with facts.

[cooolone2]

I don't think this will end well for LH... Team doesn't make the man! It will allow him to fade into retirement with a Golden Crest on his chest, but with nothing more.

Maybe they're bringing him along to help CL improve his driving enough to get over the hump and actually challenge Red Bull, but I doubt that too. LH would've done better to just stick it out and retire where he is. But it's not his nature, maybe sure he sees something all of us on the sideline can't see and is making a smart move, who knows. But there is something to be said about loyalty.

I believe too the driver makes the car, constructors can only take it so far, but the driver takes it further! Evident in MV aggressiveness and wins lately. It's definitely not about $, but massaging egos too, and we know LH has one that doesn't fit in his helmet or cars... Good luck to him, 24' is certainly going to be interesting now for sure. Will he give the Arrows one last hoorah on his way out the door, or if it's a tight race will he back off and allow Team Ferrari to squeak by! Hmmmmm... I find these advance contract issues to be problematic, a conflict of interest with little doubt it introduces issues. Why fight too hard in a corner, why take risks, why worry about strategy, just let the wind flow!

In any event, now there's plenty to talk about in the off-season, and during the entire coming 24' race circuit as well. Lol, maybe that's all its about, Ferrari needs to be talked about more than others, regardless of how well they do! You know those Italians, can't help but talk with their hands moving, needing extra attention! Hahahaha

It's all good, sit back and enjoy the show!

[HeelToeShift]

I think this was about a last hoorah to drive for Ferrari and possibly him knowing or thinking MB will be in a worse position than Ferrari. It's like playing for the Yankees, Red Sox, or Dodgers in baseball or the Laker or Celtics in basketball. There is a pedigree and heritage in just being on the team.
I can't see Ham going to a new team and doing that well especially when he will be 40+ at that time. No matter who, or how fit you stay you're not going to have the same reaction time or ability at that age in these cars. As great as Alo is, you see it with him to a degree. Additionaly, we know Ham doesnt adapt well to a car that isnt 100% to his liking so I'd expect Lec (who knows the car and speaks Italian) to be way ahead in the head to head stats.

[E92inNC]

Originally Posted by Roman

Don't ruin my humor with facts.

[shimmy23]

i know nothing about F1, but do know of Lewis, the successes he's had, and how he's transformed the sport. Looking forward to seeing what becomes at Ferrari... i dont give two shits about mercedes.

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

i know nothing about F1, but do know of Lewis, the successes he's had, and how he's transformed the sport. Looking forward to seeing what becomes at Ferrari.

You’re going against the grain, shimmy. Don’t you know Lewis is shite and it’s all because of the car and the cheating ? (Sarcasm)

[Artemis]

Niki Lauda explaining how Enzo Ferrari hired him, how "Il Commendatore" was not amused about his honest opinion about the car's handling ("the car is sh*t") and about his pay demands.

Possibly it went smoother between Lewis Hamilton and John Elkann.

[3798j]

Seen elsewhere...besides his $100m a year salary...

"Ferrari offered him huge money for all his projects, and Elkann offered him a $250 million fund that he and Hamilton will jointly own to invest in Lewis’ brand. Basically making him a sports franchise of his own. Between deals, royalties and likely investments in sports teams, Lewis will probably end up a billionaire out of this deal."

[Killed by Death]

[Artemis]

Toto Wolff on Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes exit.

Sounds like Wolff was caught off guard.

"He said to me that he had decided to race for Ferrari in 2025. And that was basically it, and we had a good hour of conversation. (...)
Over the years we came to the conclusion that staying at Mercedes and finishing the legacy here, is something that one can be proud of."

[SYT_Shadow]

I'm no huge F1 fan, but I think it's an odd move.

Hamilton is used to being a princess at Mercedes.
Leclerc is Ferrari's princess.
Hamilton is no longer in a position to demand princess treatment.

Is he willing to go to Ferrari to be a second driver? Does he expect Leclerc to be his second driver instead? Does he think he's still in his prime and can demand primary driver status?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by M3WC

Don't think he cares about their street cars, unless Ferrari have an all-electric in the next 3 years.

Hamilton:
"Since then, I have offset my carbon footprint from my Formula 1 career dating back to 2007, I have reduced travel where possible, I have gone plant-based and outside of the track, I try to use electric cars wherever possible."

Translation: instead of using my private jet for 100 trips a year, I repress myself and only take 80 trips.

Nothing against Hamilton specifically, but it's hilarious to see people whose carbon footprint in a year is a typical person's lifetime footprint talk about environmental topics.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

i know nothing about F1, but do know of Lewis, the successes he's had, and how he's transformed the sport. Looking forward to seeing what becomes at Ferrari... i dont give two shits about mercedes.

He wouldn't have those successes without Mercedes.

Merc dominated the hybrid era, he and Nico both benefited.

Now two seasons removed from the hybrid era dominance and zero wins in new ground effects era. Lewis saw writing on the wall. A change of scenery wasn't going to hurt his chances.