In an absolutely earth-shattering development, Sir Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari agreed to a partnership starting in 2025. Thursday's announcement comes less than a month before the 2024 season kicks off in Bahrain. Hamilton and Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. will now drive all of 2024 knowing they have a team change coming after the season's final race in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton is statistically the most successful F1 driver of all time. The British driver holds the records for most wins (103), most pole positions (104) and most podiums (197). He also holds the records for most career points (5,041.5) and most laps led (5,451). His seven world championships are tied for the most ever, and he was mere laps away from an eighth title before Abu Dhabi's 2021 safety-car controversy.
Hamilton, who is about to start his 18th season, spent his first six years with McLaren. He was a point away from a rookie title win in 2007, and rebounded by winning his first world championship in 2008. He continued to score wins in the following years but did not have a car capable of reliably challenging for the championship.
Upon joining the midfield Mercedes team in 2013, Hamilton's success skyrocketed. Mercedes capitalized on 2014 regulation changes to become one of the most dominant F1 teams of all time. Hamilton would win six of the next seven drivers' championships, only losing to teammate Nico Rosberg in 2016. Hamilton will be leaving a Mercedes team with which he's won 82 races in 11 seasons.
Hamilton's joining Ferrari, the most famous and prestigious F1 team in the history of the sport. The team saw extreme success in the 2000s alongside legendary drivers like Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barichello, Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen. However, Räikkönen's championship in 2007 remains the team's most recent driver's championship. The team has not enjoyed consistent success since and will look to Hamilton to change that.
Ferrari currently has two talented drivers in Charles Leclerc and Sainz. Leclerc is considered the grid's best qualifier and is under contract through 2026. Despite some consistency issues and difficulties converting pole positions into wins, Leclerc is seen by most as slightly superior to Sainz. Sainz, however, is consistent and great at providing technical feedback that his team can use to improve the car. His masterful performance in Singapore resulted in the only 2023 win for a team other than Red Bull.
Sainz will be the Ferrari driver moving, though it's not known where. The hole at Mercedes will need filling, and Sainz has an enticing amount of talent. However, many expect Williams sensation Alex Albon to replace Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025. Albon has elevated Williams considerably and has a great relationship with Mercedes driver George Russell. Sainz will most likely want to avoid the Williams seat, meaning he'll likely have to look elsewhere for a 2025 seat.
Sainz has history with the Red Bull and Renault (now Alpine) programs, both of which remain options for 2025. Red Bull's second seat will be up for grabs if Sergio Perez continues to underperform, and Red Bull would likely be ecstatic to secure someone like Sainz as their second driver. Alpine's Esteban Ocon has struggled with penalties, as has teammate Pierre Gasly. Neither is under contract past 2024, giving Sainz a potential way in.
Hamilton and Sainz's moves could inspire plenty of shakeups elsewhere on the grid. In a group of only 20 seats, a chain reaction is almost bound to happen. It'll remain to be seen if any other changes are announced prior to Feb. 21's preseason testing.
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