Sky Sports F1 pundit Bernie Collins claims Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari for the 2025 season raises a ‘big question’ for Mercedes in what could be his final year in Brackley.
Reports broke this Thursday morning that Hamilton will leave Mercedes and partner Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next year. The 39-year-old is set to break out of his contract with the Silver Arrows to replace Carlos Sainz in Maranello. Even though he agreed a fresh deal last August.
Mercedes moved to lock Hamilton down in Brackley through to the end of the 2025 season beside George Russell. But Autosport notes that the seven-time Formula 1 champion’s deal likely includes an escape clause. It should allow him to replace Sainz from the 2025 season.
Lewis Hamilton is in advanced negotiations to join Ferrari from the 2025 Formula 1 season
Ferrari are in advanced negotiations with Hamilton over a deal that could be finalised by the end of this week. The Scuderia confirmed in January that Leclerc had signed a new contract for ‘several’ more seasons. But Sainz’s future in Maranello beyond 2024 remained in doubt.
Both, Leclerc and Sainz, entered 2024 by entering the final year of their contracts for Ferrari. Now, the Scuderia are set to finally secure the signing of Stevenage-born Hamilton. A swoop for the Briton to race in red has long been a target but he has previously rejected the switch.
Yet Hamilton now appears on board with the move to Ferrari from the 2025 F1 season, after what will be 12 seasons at Mercedes. He shocked the Formula 1 paddock back in 2012 when Hamilton made a move from McLaren after six years. Yet his 2013 switch very much paid off.
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Sky Sports F1 pundit Bernie Collins sees ‘big question’ of Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes
Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver so far with a record number of wins (103), pole positions (104) and podiums (197). He and Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher share the record for the most titles with seven. Now, Hamilton might overtake the German in red.
But, first, Hamilton will have to see out the 2024 season with Mercedes before switching to Ferrari next year. The new campaign starts with the Bahrain GP on March 2 and pre-season testing in Sakhir the week before. Yet the Briton already appears to have decided his future.
For Sky Sports F1 pundit, Collins, how Hamilton and Mercedes handle 2024 is now the ‘big question’. He was a fundamental part of the team’s dominance from the start of the hybrid-turbo era in 2014. Hamilton has also been vital with guiding the development of their cars.
“Was not expecting this!” Collins posted on X in regard to Hamilton moving to Ferrari. “2025 silly season has started early. The big question is how it affects team dynamics this season.”
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