Lewis Hamilton LIVE: F1 star explains Ferrari move for 2025 and latest news

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hinted that the team will make a “bold” move to replace Lewis Hamilton after their star driver chose to join Ferrari next year.

Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, who won six of his seven titles at Mercedes, will leave the Silver Arrows at the end of the year to take up a “multi-year contract” at Ferrari in 2025.

It leaves Wolff, who has worked with Hamilton for the last 11 years, needing to find a new driver to partner George Russell next year.

On the dynamic at Mercedes this season:

“I’ve always tried to be transparent and fair and nothing is going to change in 2024 in that respect. We owe it to our team to do that. And I will ensure that the drivers respect it. In terms of development doing forward, it’s something we need to look at. We will evaluate later in the season.

“But that’s not something that bothers me at all. We have engineers that go to other teams. I don’t have any doubt in Lewis’ integrity in terms of sharing information. We want to make sure that this is a successful season for the drivers and for Mercedes and all of us will give our utmost to achieve that.”

Comment by Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari. Picture it for a moment: Hamilton, a man who transcends Formula One and whose hunger for success is unabated, glistening in the sun of the famous scarlet red. The pure romanticism and prestige of such a partnership – between F1’s most famous driver and the sport’s most iconic team – has been mooted for years. Until now, flirtations between driver and team seemed insincere. Just fantasy. Surely, given Hamilton’s repeated commitment to Mercedes and a new two-year contract, a last dance with the prancing horse would not materialise? Surely… not?

But now we know: both parties simply could not resist.

On football’s transfer deadline day, Formula One ruffled the most shocking of feathers with the news that Hamilton – Mercedes’ star man for 11 years, world champion in six of those – will join the legendary Scuderia next year on a multi-year contract. A source told The Independent that Hamilton informed Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on Wednesday night of his decision to move, simply insisting he wishes to try something new. The 39-year-old has a one-year break clause in his new deal, which he has chosen to exercise in search of this “new challenge.” And, out of nothing, the 2024 season which looked so stale (no new drivers, no new races), and with a runaway favourite in Red Bull, has been sparked into life.

A firework F1 badly needed.

On his reaction to Hamilton’s decision:

“Formula One has made me resilient to surprises. I’ve been confronted so many times in life with black swans and it was a surprise. But we knew it could be a year, or it could be two. That it would come to the end at the end of 2025 at the latest.

“I’d heard the rumours a couple of days earlier but I wanted to wait for the breakfast we had planned and that was Wednesday morning, when he broke the news.

“I didn’t try to convince him otherwise. How do we do the timings, how do we protect the team best, how do we get the two drivers working together without too much awkwardness. He drove in the sim today.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hinted that the team will make a “bold” move to replace Lewis Hamilton after their star driver chose to join Ferrari next year.

Seven-time F1 world champion Hamilton, who won six of his seven titles at Mercedes, will leave the Silver Arrows at the end of the year to take up a “multi-year contract” at Ferrari in 2025.

It leaves Wolff, who has worked with Hamilton for the last 11 years, needing to find a new driver to partner George Russell next year.

Drivers such as Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and Fernando Alonso have all been immediately linked and while Wolff did not give names, he gave a strong indicator on the direction Mercedes may take in their search for a replacement.

“I always like change because change equals opportunity,” he told journalists on Friday.

Full quotes below:

George Russell is already reflecting upon his ‘special’ time racing alongside Lewis Hamilton, as the pair prepare for a final season together at Mercedes.

Thursday brought the dramatic news that Hamilton will join Ferrari at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season, ending a 12-year stint with Mercedes in which he has won six drivers’ titles so far – with the chance to add one more in 2024.

Russell, 25, joined Mercedes from Williams in 2022, and his sole F1 win came in his first season with the Silver Arrows.

Reacting to the news of Hamilton’s eventual departure, Russell tweeted of his fellow Briton on Friday: “It’s been special racing alongside you, @lewishamilton.

“Let’s make this season one to remember.”

More here:

Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari on Thursday saw the Scuderia’s share price skyrocket more than 10 per cent – equating to just under $7billion (£5.48bn) – on Thursday.

Mercedes confirmed late on Thursday that seven-time world champion Hamilton – who has won six of his seven titles with the Silver Arrows – has exercised a break clause in his new two-year contract.

It means Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in 2025, with the Spaniard now looking for a new team for next year as Hamilton will partner Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton has made a shock move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season.

The British driver has been at Mercedes for more than a decade, winning six of his seven world titles with the team, but Hamilton has not won an F1 race for over two years as the team have dropped off the pace behind Red Bull.

The news has shocked the world of Formula 1, with Hamilton partnering Charles Leclerc, who signed a long-term extension with Ferrari last week.

Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz next year at the iconic Italian team, with the Spanish driver’s contract running out at the end of 2024.

Here is a look at who could replace Hamilton at Mercedes.

Toto Wolff is due to speak to the media shortly, he will address Lewis Hamilton’s departure and provide an update on plans for Mercedes in 2025 and beyond.