Bombshell News in F1 - Lewis Hamilton Will Drive For Ferrari!

The last day of January is known as a busy day in the football world - it's deadline day. And no one could have predicted a transfer like this stealing the show. F1 "silly season," known for a period of mania when a driver transfer causes a cascading effect down the grid, has been blown out of the park with this bombshell. Lewis Hamilton is going to Ferrari in 2025.

Lewis Hamilton

How it unfolded

This breaking story is unfolding with more information becoming known to us. The facts are that Lewis will be spending one last season with Mercedes before moving to the illustrious red Azzurri. Events have unfolded with Lewis activating a break clause in his two-year contract with Mercedes. The immediate knock-on effect is that Carlos Sainz Jr will be replaced, as Charles Leclerc recently signed a long-term deal with Ferrari and has always been considered the number one driver.

Lewis has been clear with his disappointment in the performance of Mercedes in the last couple of seasons. After the drama of Abu Dhabi in 2021, Red Bull have blown the competition out the door, and Mercedes have struggled. Lewis has struggled and felt the heavy weight on his shoulders while the performance has lacked.

There has been speculation in the past about Lewis moving on, with keen interest in Ferrari before as Lewis has spoken about his desire for the red Ferrari and his surprise how it never happened for one reason or another. But now it has.

Lewis is known for making bold changes, most notably leaving his family team McLaren to join Mercedes back in 2012. He's done it again.

Is it a smart decision from Lewis?

Lewis has made a great decision once in his life; there's a chance he can do it again. Lewis will be 40 soon and knows his time to win a record-breaking 8th World Championship becomes less likely with each passing season. I personally see this as a wise decision from Hamilton.

He has one final season with Mercedes, where they have a chance to rectify their mistakes and provide Lewis with a championship-winning capable car. He has one last shot at it with them. Had he stayed on with Mercedes and they failed to deliver again, things would look rather bleak.

Whereas, by moving to Ferrari, he will move to a team that has been working tirelessly to get a first championship since 2007, motivated with lots of spending power. They also are a works team with engine regulation changes coming in 2026. If Mercedes were to perform and Hamilton were to win the title, he would have done the job of becoming the greatest of all time and then gets to drive for his dream team, Ferrari, before retiring. This seems like a win-win situation.

The only situation where it doesn't fall suit is the following season after leaving (without winning the title) Mercedes reignite their form and win as Ferrari continue their woes. Even so, Hamilton will still get to experience the tifosi fans and drive the red scarlet Ferrari.

Silly Season

The big question, what will happen next? As one domino falls, so does the next and so on. Unless it's a straight swap Hamilton for Sainz, there will be movements up and down the grid. Who is the favourite to replace Hamilton at Mercedes? Let's look at a few candidates on the grid:

• Carlos Sainz - A race winner for Ferrari, has shown his pace but at the end of the day is being replaced. He is more likely to return to Red Bull and take Checo's place, in my view.
  

• Alex Albon - A favourite in my eyes. He is a Williams driver under Mercedes management and therefore keep a close eye. Alex was a star performer last year, proving his speed and racecraft. He deserves a second shot at the top, and it would be a juicy rivalry with his pal George Russell.
  

• Lando Norris - Recently signed a long-term deal with McLaren, which therefore makes it unlikely, but stranger things have happened. Clauses in contracts could make Norris available just like Hamilton, and Norris may want to jump ships after a few frustrating seasons with McLaren underperforming.
  

• Fernando Alonso - Why not? He is in his 40s but still has the hunger, passion, and speed, just like Lewis has. He is a proven winner, with two titles under his belt. He is great pals with Russell; it's not inconceivable. So, there you have it. Crazy news, it has spiced up the F1 world before the season has even kicked off. The questions, speculation will go on all season, leading up to a feisty year on and off the track.

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