BBC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lewis Hamilton says he is “100% committed to the job” he needs to do at Mercedes this year before joining Ferrari in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Briton joined Mercedes for the 2013 season and secured six of his seven world titles with the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton signed a two-year deal with Mercedes last summer but it is understood he chose to activate a break clause to switch to Ferrari.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s been a crazy few days filled with a whole range of emotions,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his first public comments since the move was announced, Hamilton added: “The time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life and I will be joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I feel incredibly fortunate, after achieving things with Mercedes that I could only have dreamed of as a kid, that I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 39-year-old won 82 of his record 103 races with Mercedes, who won eight consecutive constructors’ titles from 2014 to 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Hamilton has not won a race since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, which preceded that season’s controversial title-decider in Abu Dhabi where the race director’s failure to follow the rules correctly meant he missed out on a record eighth world title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He finished sixth in the drivers’ standings in 2022 and was third last season as Mercedes were usurped by Red Bull as Formula 1’s dominant team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The time is right to make a change and take on a new challenge,” said Hamilton in a social media post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I still remember the feeling of taking a leap of faith into the unknown when I first joined Mercedes in 2013. I know some people didn’t understand it at the time but I was right to make the move then and it’s the feeling I have again now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m excited to see what I can bring to this new opportunity and what we can do together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “However, right now, I’m not thinking about 2025. My focus is on the upcoming season and getting back out on track with Mercedes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I am more driven than ever, I am fitter and more focussed than than ever and I want to help Mercedes win once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I am 100% committed to the job I need to do and determined to end my partnership with the team on a high.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton told Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff of his decision to leave the team and join Ferrari over a planned breakfast at the Austrian’s home on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolff said it came as a “surprise”<\/strong> but that he did not “hold a grudge” against his friend and did not attempt to change his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hamilton thanked Wolff in his message and also paid special mention to Niki Lauda, who died in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lauda, a three-time Formula 1 world champion, was the non-executive chairman of the Mercedes team and was close to Hamilton, having been instrumental in persuading him to join in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “This decision has been the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” added Hamilton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I’m incredibly proud of all that we’ve achieved together and I’m very grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone I have worked with over the years and of course Toto, for his friendship, guidance and leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Together we have won titles, broken records and become the most successful driver-team partnership in F1 history. And, of course, I cannot forget Niki [Lauda] who was a huge supporter and who I still miss everyday.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" BBC Lewis Hamilton says he is “100% committed to the job” he needs to do at Mercedes this year before joining Ferrari in 2025. The Briton joined Mercedes for the 2013 season and secured six…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8639,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[2879,618,2878],"class_list":["post-8638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-ferrari","tag-lewis-hamilton","tag-mercedes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n‘Hardest decision I’ve ever had to make’<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n