Hamilton to Ferrari?

    Lewis Hamilton, one of the most electric drivers in the sport, is set to make a major move from Mercedes to Ferrari in the upcoming 2025 season.  Although it’s not certain  that any contracts have been signed, according to sources, contract negotiations are at an advanced stage and could very well be completed by the end of the week.

     This does not come as a shock to many because Ferrari has had an interest in Lewis and his abilities for some time now.  However, their advances have always come up short because the multiple-time champion believed Mercedes gave him the greatest chance to be successful.

     Yet now, after repeated seasons of struggles with Mercedes, it appears as though Lewis may be primed to make his move to Ferrari.  With the last two seasons not measuring up to his standards, Ferrari is beginning to look like greener pastures.

     In 2023, Lewis signed a multi-year contract with Mercedes for 2024 and 2025, but with the recent challenges, it seems that the final year of the contract is optional.

     Which means Lewis has an escape clause in his contract allowing him to sign with  Ferrari for the 2025 season. 

     Neither Ferrari nor Mercedes have reached out for comment.

     If Hamilton indeed signs with Ferrari, it will be a huge setback for Mercedes, which went through lengthy contract negotiations in 2023 to secure the 7X championship.

     Speaking just after his deal was completed, Lewis, with the conviction of his beliefs that Mercedes had learned from their turbulent 2022 and 2023 seasons, would be ready to get back in the winner’s circle with the company’s  new vehicle for this campaign. 

    During last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis was interviewed, at which time he was asked, “Did he ever doubt they would get back to the front?” His response was, “No.  Not while we were in negotiations.”

     “I do have faith that we will get there; we have been here before as a team, and while we have more and more new people, we still have great values; I see great focus within everyone.”

     He continued: “I think for this year [2023], they thought the fundamentals were good and we just had to go here, but that’s not the case. That’s why I was frustrated in February, because they hadn’t made the changes I’d asked (for).  

     “But with the changes we are making, I hope I was, I hope we are right, and, yeah, but I guess we have no idea what the Red Bulls are going to do.” 

     It is not definite what has caused the change of heart that could influence the move for Lewis, who was expected to finish out his career with Mercedes.

     Early implications from the Mercedes wind tunnel show the new W15 may be a good step in the right direction for the racing titans. The German manufacturers also recently announced that team boss Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison have extended their contracts for the foreseeable future.