by Last week the announcement that American motorsports power house Andretti racings application to join F1 was denied was viewed as the biggest news we would get going into the season. This news was dwarfed when it was announced that Seven time World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton signed a contract with Formula one’s most successful team Scuderia Ferrari.
Hamilton started his career in 2007 with McLaren winning his first world championship with the legendary club. In 2012 he joined Mercedes to replace Ferrari legend and seven time world champion Michael Schumacher after his second retirement.
Hamilton won six world championships during his time with the Silver Arrows tying Schumacher’s record. Hamilton was one lap away from securing his seventh title, he lost to Max Verstappen in a controversial rule in favor of Verstappen.
Since then, Hamilton has gone winless in two seasons despite pushing a slow Mercedes car to multiple Podiums secure 3rd and 2nd place in the constructor standings the past two seasons. The Mercedes car has been criticized for a poor design and failure to updated the car to properly compete.
Many thought Hamilton would retire with Mercedes and never saw him leaving for another team, especially after his most recent extension with the Silver Arrows just a year ago. The contract had a clause that allowed Hamilton to opt out after his first season on his new contract which starts in 2024. This puts Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz on the outs as 2024 will be his last season with Ferrari as he looks for a new seat to open up for 2025.
Hamilton and Ferrari came to terms a few weeks ago that will see the former champion in the red track suit in 2025. No one knows how the pair of Hamilton and current Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will work out.
