In a surprising turn of events, Mercedes has confirmed that Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 champion, will be leaving the team at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari in 2025.

The news, confirmed by Mercedes’ technical director James Allison, has stunned fans and the F1 community, especially given Hamilton’s recent two-year contract extension with Mercedes.

According to Allison, Hamilton’s contract included a break clause that allowed the driver to opt out earlier than expected, which paved the way for his Ferrari move.

Allison explained on the Beyond the Grid podcast that while the timing caught the team off-guard, Hamilton’s departure wasn’t entirely unforeseeable. “The manner and timing of it were surprising,” Allison admitted, adding that “the nature of the contract permitted this possibility, so it wasn’t a complete shock.”

Despite Hamilton’s exit, Allison expressed admiration for Hamilton’s talent, recalling how his precise driving and exceptional tire management would often “leave all the other drivers around him with no option but to surrender.”

Hamilton’s departure signals a major shift for Mercedes, as the team will have to exclude him from developmental discussions for their 2025 car. Although he continues to be a key collaborator for the current season, Hamilton acknowledged the inevitability of being phased out of Mercedes’ technical meetings as they prepare for next year’s campaign.

With Hamilton’s move, Ferrari will part ways with Carlos Sainz, and speculation has been swirling around who might replace Hamilton at Mercedes. Although experienced drivers such as Sainz are in the mix, Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, has hinted that the team is seriously considering their 17-year-old junior driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who recently clinched his first Formula 2 victory at Silverstone.

Meanwhile, Mercedes has also made strides in reclaiming competitiveness this season, highlighted by recent wins from George Russell and Hamilton himself in Austria and Silverstone. Following two challenging seasons, Wolff credited James Allison’s return to the technical director role as a major turning point for the team. Mercedes currently stands in fourth place in the Constructors’ standings, showing signs of closing the gap to their rivals.

For now, fans are left wondering how Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes will unfold and how his legendary career will continue at Ferrari in 2025. As Wolff put it, Mercedes is staying focused on their current trajectory, determined to remain a fierce contender in the evolving Formula 1 landscape.