Lewis Hamilton is excited about joining Ferrari in 2025, though he remains committed to maximising his final year at Mercedes.
Perhaps the biggest move in Formula 1 this century was announced a month ago, with Lewis Hamilton signing a contract with Ferrari. This multi-year agreement pairs the most successful driver in the sport with the most accomplished constructor.
Inevitably, plenty of questions have arisen. One of the biggest consequences is that Carlos Sainz becomes a free agent and a key player in the 2024 driver market.
The new vacancy at Mercedes is already seeing drivers like Fernando Alonso and Kimi Antonelli mentioned as candidates.
However, returning to the first domino that fell, Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari is obviously of huge significance.
There are already expectations that Hamilton will bring several engineers from Mercedes to Maranello.
This has created a new dimension in F1 discussions, with the movement of senior engineers now firmly under the microscope.
Hamilton is entering uncharted territory, having spent the best part of a decade with the Brackley-based team.
No change in mentality for Hamilton
Despite this, the 7-time Champion has no reservations about the next chapter of his career:
“I’m very fortunate at Mercedes, I’ve been able to be myself. And that will be no different at Ferrari.
“Through my experience of all these years and negotiating however many contacts, there’s more freedom.
“I’m 100% a Mercedes driver now, and I don’t want this distracting me from doing a job.
“My goal is delivering for them this year.
“And then next year, I’ve got to form new relationships. New environment, new language and everything.”
It goes without saying that extra attention will be paid to the Ferrari garage in 2025.
A driver lineup consisting of Charles Leclerc and the driver with the most F1 wins ever is an exciting prospect.
Moreover, the progress made by Fred Vasseur’s team over winter is very encouraging. The SF-24 is already showing behaviours that are very different from last year’s car.
Considering the continuity between 2024 and 2025, the Italian outfit could position itself to be a front-runner by the time Hamilton arrives.
Even if this does not transpire, the brand-new regulations in 2026 mean there is everything to play for.
This adds another layer to an already fascinating dynamic. Focusing on the upcoming 24-round season, the relative progress at Mercedes and Ferrari now has an additional impact.
As ever, Formula 1 continues to generate surprises even before the cars hit the circuit.
