Lewis Hamilton has shocked the sporting world by lining up a surprise switch from Mercedes to rivals Ferrari.
Mail Sport understands the seven-time world champion has secured a seat to drive for the Italian firm who have been reportedly offering him a £40million incentive to sign up for the 2025 season.
Today’s development confirms Mail Sport’s world exclusive of last May that Ferrari were in talks with Hamilton – even though this was strenuously denied at the time.
Sir Lewis is currently on £50million-a-year at Mercedes, where he has won six of his seven world championships – and previously expressed his desire to remain with them for the rest of his time in the sport.
But Ferrari chiefs have stepped up their efforts to tempt him across, after Hamilton expressed frustration in recent seasons over under-performing by Mercedes.
A source in Italy said today of those conversations in late spring: ‘They were pushing like mad.
That story of a potential move was denied by all parties last year, including Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.
But now the Italian press has stated Hamilton, 39, is wanted to replace Spaniard Carlos Sainz, whose contract negotiations ground to a standstill in December.
Hamilton is contracted to Mercedes until the end of 2025, a bind that requires some unpicking but not one that is not insuperable because of an ‘escape clause’.
Driving for Ferrari has been an obsession nagging in Hamilton’s head all his career.
There have been flirtations between the two parties for a while, and he has driven red road cars off the forecourt of their Beverly Hills dealership, as well as visited the factory in Maranello.
Mail Sport understands that John Elkann, the company president, has led the initiative to bring in Hamilton for what, if the move materializes, would likely be the last chapter of a glittering career.
Elkann is attracted by Hamilton’s superstar status as the only Formula One driver with truly transcendent fame across the world.
Nothing would cap his successes than winning an eighth title at Ferrari – a milestone that eluded even the great Michael Schumacher, the team’s most decorated champion.
Hamilton won six of his world titles with Mercedes in the space of seven years between 2014 and 20.
However, the team have since fallen off the pace and Hamilton has not won a race since narrowly missing out on a record eighth world championship in 2021.
Hamilton began his Formula One career with McLaren and won his first world title with them in 2008 before switching to Mercedes in 2013.
In terms of race wins, he is the most successful driver in the sport’s history with 103 – 12 ahead of Schumacher, with whom he shares the record for the most world titles.
Sky Sports’ F1 lead commentator David Croft tweeted in response to today’s reports: ‘Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari! Always thought it would happen one day, finally it will and it seems as early as 2025.
‘Seismic move just as it was when Lewis joined Mercedes and like then I don’t see the negatives.
‘But wow, undoubtedly the biggest transfer on transfer deadline day!’
