Lewis Hamilton, rumors of him driving for the Red Team - Ferrari
Formula 1 Rumors

Formula 1 News: Hamilton to replace Sainz Jr. at Ferrari (Update)

Posted by AR1 staff

According to RacingNews365, Loic Serra’s departure from Mercedes has played a key role in Lewis Hamilton’s decision to move to Ferrari.

They lost Aldo Costa 3 years ago and Mercedes has not been the same since.  Now they lost Serra.

All championship winning F1 cars designed in the last 20 years were designed by either Aldo Costa or Adrian Newey

Loic Serra was the Head of Vehicle Performance at Mercedes before being poached by Ferrari for the 2025 campaign. A “top guy” as per Fred Vasseur.

Serra considered the W13 and W14 projects to be following the wrong direction due to a very long wheelbase and floor, and it now seems that both Serra and Hamilton were aligned with their concerns.

Loic Serra and Lewis Hamilton
Loic Serra and Lewis Hamilton

Following news that Lewis Hamilton is set to join Ferrari, for the 2025 F1 season, the Italian company’s share price has soared on the New York Stock Exchange to a record high. This news has added $10 billion to Ferrari’s market cap.

In other news headsets demand have skyrocketed at Brackley!

Toto Wolff has anger management issues
Toto Wolff has anger management issues
February 1, 2024 

Lewis Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz Jr. at Ferrari from 2025 in a desperate last bid to win a record eighth world championship.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

The 39-year-old is poised to join the Italian team for the 2025 season – despite agreeing a two-year deal with Mercedes last season.

The move would mean that Carlos Sainz Jr. would be out of a seat – although he has been heavily linked with a switch to the new Audi team, who will takeover at Sauber.

F1 insiders believe the deal could be completed within the next 24 hours in a bombshell move that will shock Mercedes because they thought they had him for two years.

However, F1 insiders report that Hamilton will activate a break clause in his contract which will allow him to leave Mercedes at the end of this season.

Several sources say claims of links between the seven-time champion and Ferrari should be taken seriously, but a deal is not yet confirmed.”

Sky News reported the Mercedes factory was to be briefed this morning (UK time) before a formal announcement today.

This makes much more sense now:

The 2024 season will be Hamilton’s 12th with AMG Mercedes F1 and all 17 seasons of his F1 career have been with Mercedes power.

Ferrari chairman John Elkann has been a long-term admirer of Hamilton’s talent and the two have held talks in the past.

He has also worked with Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur in the past when he drove for his ART Grand Prix squad in GP2.

Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton
Fred Vasseur and Lewis Hamilton

Earlier this week, Hamilton admitted to having a “love-hate” relationship with Formula 1 and even hinted that he could retire in the next 12 months.

Addressing his previous assertion several years ago that he would not still be in the sport at 40, he told Formule1.nl : “That is still possible.

“I have no set plan for the future – I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.

“I’ve now learned that you should never say never in life.

“I never thought that, after such a long time in Formula One, I would still feel the same love for the sport.

“It is a love-hate relationship – at times you love it more than at others.

Who would replace Hamilton?

Assuming this very strong rumor is true, and we should know today, who will replace Hamilton at Mercedes.

Mick Schumacher is their #1 Reserve driver and Wolff has spoken very highly of the German.

My guess is that Wolff will try to get the highly rated Alex Albon away from Williams, but I hear Fernando Alonso might replace Hamilton at Mercedes in another shock move.

However, it is “worth remembering that Mercedes junior and prodigal sensation Antonelli is making his F2 debut this season. If he shows well enough and gets the license points, an 18 year old rookie replacing an outgoing Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025 could be a huge story in itself,”  says Will Buxton.

However, Toto Wolff’s phone will be ringing off the hook henceforth from half the F1 paddock and all the F2 paddock.