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Lewis Hamilton says his selection to go away Mercedes to race for Ferrari will enable him to he may fulfil a childhood dream.
Information that the seven-times world champion would be a part of Ferrari, F1’s most profitable workforce, in 2025 surprised the sporting world on Thursday.
Talking publicly for the primary time by way of a publish on social media, Hamilton stated the choice to go away Mercedes for Ferrari was “the toughest I’ve ever needed to make” in his profession.
“It’s been a loopy few days which have been crammed with an entire vary of feelings,” Hamilton stated.
“After an unimaginable 11 years at Mercedes workforce, the time has come for me to start out a brand new chapter in my life and I might be becoming a member of Scuderia Ferrari in 2025. I really feel extremely lucky, after reaching issues with Mercedes that I may solely have dreamed of as a child, that I now have the prospect to fulfil one other childhood dream – driving in Ferrari purple.”
The 2024 season might be Hamilton’s twelfth and remaining marketing campaign with Mercedes, having joined the workforce in 2013. In that point collectively, they’ve received 82 grands prix, taken 78 pole positions, had 148 podium finishes and received six drivers and eight constructors’ championships. They’re probably the most profitable driver and workforce mixture within the sport’s historical past.
“Mercedes has been an enormous a part of my life since I used to be 13 years outdated, so this resolution has been the toughest I’ve ever needed to make,” Hamilton stated.
“I’m extremely happy with all that we’ve achieved collectively and I’m very grateful for the onerous work and dedication of everybody I’ve labored with through the years and naturally Toto, for his friendship, steering and management. Collectively we have now received titles, damaged data and turn out to be probably the most profitable driver-team partnership in F1 historical past. And naturally I can’t overlook Niki [Lauda] who was an enormous supporter and who I nonetheless miss on a regular basis.
“I need to additionally share my large appreciation to the entire of the Mercedes-Benz board and everybody on the firm in Germany and world wide for supporting me over these 26 years.”
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Hamilton believes “the time is true to make a change and tackle a brand new problem” by becoming a member of Ferrari on a multi-year deal from 2025, likening his transfer to the one he made to Mercedes from McLaren in 2013.
“I nonetheless bear in mind the sensation of taking a leap of religion into the unknown after I first joined Mercedes in 2013,” he stated. “I do know some folks didn’t perceive it on the time however I used to be proper to make the transfer then and it’s the sensation I’ve once more now. I’m excited to see what I can carry to this new alternative and what we will do collectively.”
Together with his transfer confirmed, Hamilton insists he’s “100% dedicated” to creating his remaining season with Mercedes a profitable one.
“Proper now, I’m not fascinated about 2025,” he stated. “My focus is on the upcoming season and getting again out on monitor with Mercedes.
“I’m extra pushed than ever, I’m fitter and extra centered than than ever and I wish to assist Mercedes win as soon as once more. I’m 100% dedicated to the job I must do and decided to finish my partnership with the workforce on a excessive.”
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