Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is all set to make a shock move to Ferrari from Mercedes. While an official confirmation on whether or not a contract has been signed is awaited, several reports including the one carried by BBC suggest that both the parties are at an advanced stage of negatiations which could be concluded by the weekend.
For context, Ferrrai has been interested in roping in the services of the Briton for a long time, however, Lewis Hamilton had rejected each of the previous attempts based on his assessment that Mercedes would be better suited for him to succeed. However, given that Mercedes had a couple of seasons where they were far from their best and that perhaps seems to have helped Ferrari in convincing Hamilton that joining them could be a better deal for him in the long run.
Lewis Hamilton Signed Multi-Year Contract With Mercedes In 2023
Meanwhile, it is pertinent to note that while Hamilton had signed a multi-year contract with Mercedes which would see him stay put with the team at least till 2025, it is now being reported that the 2025 was an optional clause. That suggests that Hamilton have an escape clause, meaning if he indeed signs a contract with Ferrari, he will be able to join them in 2025 at the earliest.
As of now, neither Ferrari nor Mercedes has issued an official statement regarding what could be a massive development in Formula 1. However, if Hamilton indeed agrees to a new deal with Ferarri, it is certain to be a massive blow to Mercedes who had an extensive discussion with Hamilton in order to convince him to put pen to paper on an extension contract. On the other hand, they would have the task of identifying a replacement for a racer of Hamilton's magnitude and legacy, a monumental task in itself.