Hamilton’s Shocking Move to Ferrari Stirs F1 Driver Market

 Lewis Hamilton stunned the F1 world on the 1st of February when he announced his move to Ferrari for 2025. Despite rumours floating around before any confirmation, the official announcement was a shocker, as everyone expected the seven-time world champion to end his career as a Mercedes driver. Hamilton has won six of his seven world titles, and 82 of his 103 GP wins at Mercedes. Having been a part of the Mercedes family in his F1 career so far, 2025 would be the Briton’s first time driving a non-Mercedes-powered car. Hamilton will be partnering Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, replacing Carlos Sainz Jr.

“It’s been a crazy few days which have been filled with a whole range of emotions. But as you all now know, after an incredible 11 years at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025”, Hamilton said, sharing a heartfelt post on his social media handles. “I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”

Hamilton’s departure has sparked widespread discussions regarding who will replace him in the team. With many driver contracts ending by the end of 2024, the silly season has begun much earlier. Drivers including Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Sergio Perez, and Pierre Gasly among others are free agents for 2025. Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli is believed to be one of the candidates to replace Hamilton. Owing to his impressive junior racing career, Antonelli has already accumulated enough superlicense points to race in F1. Most teams would likely be keeping an eye out for the Italian sensation this year, as he makes his Formula 2 debut.

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