Lewis Hamilton is just weeks away from switching silver for red in Formula 1 as his move to Ferrari edges closer.
The seven-time world champion will be joining the Maranello squad in 2025 to partner with Charles Leclerc. Hamilton has signed a £39m-a-year contract with Ferrari that runs until 2026 – with the option of a further year – as he looks to grab a record-breaking eighth championship.
The Brit will be replacing Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, with the news of the transfer coming even before either driver stepped into the 2024 machines in February. The Spaniard will be moving to Williams next season to partner with Alex Albon.
Both Hamilton and Sainz have recently said their respective goodbyes to Mercedes and Ferrari before their 2025 moves. Hamilton waved farewell to Mercedes with a special evening at their Brackley factory, with thousands of fans and key personnel at the team coming to wish the Brit well for his next chapter.
After four years with the team, Ferrari gave their departing driver an extra special farewell gift as Sainz and his father Carlos Sainz Sr drove 2022 F1-75 cars around their Fiorano test track in a brilliant touch from the team.
Lewis Hamilton had the same ‘secret meetings’ as Carlos Sainz before he joined Ferrari
Sainz has already tested with Williams at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi, registering the second-fastest time behind Leclerc.
It was suggested that Hamilton would take part in the session with Ferrari, but Mercedes blocked Hamilton from participating as he is still under contract with the team until the new year.
With his Ferrari contract not coming into effect until January, Hamilton is expected to complete a test at Ferrari’s Fiorano Circuit ahead of pre-season testing in February.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Lewis Hamilton’s 2025 Ferrari move from wage to when Mercedes knew
It does seem like a long way away before Hamilton finally gets to work with his new team and meet his new colleagues. However, according to a report from AutoRacer, the two parties have already met.
The report says that Hamilton had already ‘privately visited Maranello’ ahead of his move in 2025. These ‘secret meetings’ are the same as what Sainz had when he joined the team.
The Spaniard had met with Ferrari before his transfer in 2021 when he ‘was still under contract with McLaren’, and now Hamilton has done the same this year, it highlights how keen he is to get his new chapter up and running.
Lewis Hamilton did not have the farewell season at Mercedes he would have wanted
Arguably the greatest partnership in F1 history will come to an end after 12 incredible year, but unfortunately, Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes did not go exactly as he would have hoped.
The Brit again struggled to find consistency with his Mercedes machinery in the ground effect era, as the W15 proved very unpredictable throughout the season.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Qualifying was a huge issue for Hamilton in 2024 as he was eliminated four times in Q1. The 39-year-old was often seen dejected about his car and his performances, frequently criticizing himself and stating he no longer as the pace.
Hamilton must get rid of these self-defacing comments according to Justin Bell and must have a clean slate with Ferrari so he can show the sport how great he still is.
Hamilton did produce some moments of brilliance in 2024 despite recording the lowest finish of his career with seventh in the standings. The Brit won two races – his first since 2021 – and produced a stunning drive from P16 to finish fourth in his final race with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi.
