Is Lewis Hamilton going to leave Mercedes?

 Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 winner, has agreed to a multi-year contract with Ferrari, the two teams confirmed on Thursday. A legend of the game will now play for the most illustrious squad in the shocking move.

"Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract," a statement from Ferrari said. Hamilton, according to Mercedes, triggered a leave-related clause in his contract. "The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season," stated Mercedes. "Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows." With the transfer, an exciting new chapter begins in Hamilton's career as he pursues a record-breaking eighth championship. 

The 39-year-old driver is poised to replace Carlos Sainz, whose contract expires this year, and race alongside Ferrari star Charles Leclerc, who signed a multi-year contract extension with the Italian team last week.

Hamilton Making A New steps

“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge.”

Hamilton has driven for Mercedes since 2013 and won six world championships with the team, after previously winning one title with McLaren. In 2021, he narrowly lost what would have been a record eighth championship to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who went on to dominate the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Reasons for Taking the Bold steps

While Ferrari and Mercedes have fought it out for second place in the constructors championship in both of the last two years, with Ferrari coming out on top in 2022 and Mercedes in 2023, Red Bull has dominated the competition in those two years. It's far from certain that Hamilton, who has battled recently at Ferrari, would be in a better position to win his ninth championship there. Despite recruiting all-time greats like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel in that time, Ferrari has not won a drivers' championship since 2007. 

Despite a string of technical mishaps and tactical blunders during competitions in recent years, the team continues to be the most prestigious in the sport. It was revealed more than a month ago. before the start of the new season, which begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 2.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/