Formula 1 was recently shaken by unexpected news: Lewis Hamilton, the 7-time world champion, is leaving Mercedes and signing a multi-year contract with Ferrari in 2025! Ferrari’s stock surged by 13% in one day after this news! Social media was flooded with images of Hamilton in a red uniform, which has sparked widespread discussions about who stands to gain or lose from this story. So, let’s delve into the analysis.
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At first glance, the Formula 1 offseason appeared to proceed as expected, with everyone gearing up for the upcoming season, teams gradually unveiling the dates for their cars’ livery presentations, and fans eagerly awaiting the new season of Drive to Survive on Netflix. However, on January 31, Formula 1 delivered unexpected news by rejecting Andretti Global’s application to participate in the World Championship for 2025-2026, citing doubts about the new team’s potential to enhance the championship’s value.
While media outlets and fans dissected this decision, rumours began circulating on February 1 about Lewis Hamilton’s potential contract signing with Ferrari in 2025. Speculation quickly escalated, inundating social media with Hamilton’s imagery in a Ferrari uniform, setting the stage for an evening of anticipated revelations. As scheduled, Mercedes initially confirmed the impending split with Hamilton at the end of the 2024 season, followed promptly by the driver’s personal statement:
Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO, commented:
In terms of team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end eventually, and that day has now come. We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.
Lewis Hamilton added:
I have had an amazing 11 years with this team, and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together. Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s where I grew up, so deciding to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step, and…
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