By Jackie Rocco, Year 12
The whole world, Formula One fans or not, has been taken by storm with the recent news of Lewis Hamilton joining Scuderia Ferrari in the 2025 Formula One season. Why is this news so shocking?
Lewis Hamilton has been in the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team for 11 years now, and has won six world championships with Mercedes. However, Hamilton has not won a single race since 2021 in Saudi Arabia. As of recently, things have been tense within the Mercedes garage, and the team has not been performing as well as they have in the past. Ahead of the 2023 season, Hamilton had asked for changes to be made to the car, and after the first race in Bahrain, Hamilton stated that “I had asked for changes, and they weren’t done”. So it seems that Hamilton’s time at Mercedes in the past 2 seasons has been somewhat rocky.
After the news of his move, Hamilton reiterated that “it was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make”, and stated he was grateful for his 11 years with Mercedes, where he had achieved so much. Additionally, Hamilton stated that it was a childhood dream of his to drive for Ferrari, and it seems he took the chance to make that dream come true. Hamilton also said that “the time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge”, doubtless wanting to be a winning driver again.
Hamilton’s move to Ferrari can be seen as a strategic plan that can help both Hamilton and Ferrari. It could possibly help Hamilton to win his 8th championship and help Ferrari, who has not won a Constructors’ Championship since 2008, get back on a winning path.
So then who is going to Mercedes and who is leaving Ferrari? With Charles Leclerc recently extending his contract with Ferrari “beyond 2024”, this points towards Carlos Sainz leaving the team, although he was the only non-Red Bull driver who won a race during the 2023 season. George Russell’s contract with Mercedes extends until the end of 2025, meaning there is one seat at Mercedes up for grabs. Who will take it?
Sainz seems like a likely choice, with no seat guaranteed for 2025. However, Audi, who will take over Sauber in 2026, looks like an appealing destination for Sainz. Sainz has already been linked with Audi, and has the opportunity to help create a new team with him at the center. Another choice is Alex Albon, a perfect match with George Russel, being his close friend. However, Albon is signed to Williams until the end of the 2025 season. Formula One contracts can be broken and have been in the past, so this still is not set in stone. The Red Bull Formula One team may turn Albon’s head if Sergio Perez leaves. So it seems like Mercedes’s future is still a mystery.
With the 2024 season starting in less than a month, all of the attention is on Hamilton during his last season with Mercedes. Will this change in teams prove to be the right choice? All is to be decided in 2025.
