Hamilton may have decided to quit because he no longer thought Mercedes could catch up to the lead.
New information on Lewis Hamilton‘s motivations for leaving Mercedes and signing with Ferrari for the 2025 Formula One season has surfaced following his shocking decision to leave the team one year early. The transfer is undoubtedly among the biggest news items involving Formula One in the past ten years, if not the largest.
At first, it was said that Hamilton thought Mercedes had the personnel, the capital, and the proper momentum to retake the lead. With his move to Ferrari, though, it seems that faith may have faded.
The reason Hamilton went with Ferrari
A number of trustworthy technical sources have informed RacingNews365 that Hamilton’s choice to join the Scuderia for the 2025 season was significantly influenced by Loic Serra’s departure. Serra, who served as Mercedes’ Head of Vehicle Performance throughout their championship-winning seasons, was also recently snatched up by Ferrari for the 2025 campaign.
Many sources have said that Serra’s unusually lengthy wheelbase and floor caused him to fall out with the Mercedes technical staff under Mike Elliott, especially when it came to the direction of the W13 and W14 projects. Hamilton and Serra appeared to be in agreement, expressing their misgivings about the 2022-spec vehicle that was constructed in accordance with updated technological specifications.
The British driver even went public with his reservations about the car during the 2023 season, saying: “Last year, I alerted them about the flaws that are with the car. I have a great deal of experience driving vehicles, so I know what a car requires and doesn’t need. Furthermore, I believe that the main issue is one of accountability—that is, facing up to the fact that we didn’t listen to you, that the situation isn’t right, and that we need to make changes.
It appears that Hamilton was persuaded that the team’s difficulties would not stop and that his on-track results would not get any better when he saw what Mercedes had in store for him in the next seasons. Ferrari and Mercedes were both well behind the always outstanding Red Bull in terms of speed, but the Scuderia appeared to be more advanced than Mercedes in terms of their on-track performance and advancement.
Statement from Lewis Hamilton on quitting Mercedes
“I am so proud of what we have achieved together”
“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team, and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” Hamilton said in a statement following the announcement that his incredible 11 years with Mercedes will come to an end.
There’s just one F1 story worth following at the moment, let’s face it: Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes at the conclusion of the 2024 season to join Ferrari.
Is it beginning to stick? Perhaps it’s for Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff, who spoke to the media for the first time since Hamilton’s shocking transfer was revealed, including Thomas Maher of PlanetF1.com.
This is the exclusive Hamilton to Ferrari F1 news round-up on Friday.
Since I was thirteen years old, Mercedes has been a part of my life. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make to leave, as it is a place where I have grown up. However, I feel that now is the appropriate moment for me to make this move, and I’m eager to start a new adventure.
“My Mercedes family has given me so much support, and I want to end on a positive note with them. I will always be appreciative of Toto’s friendship and guidance. I’m fully dedicated to giving this season’s performance my all and turning this become my final year with the Silver Arrows.”
Beginning in the 2025 campaign, Hamilton will be Charles Leclerc’s teammate in what promises to be an incredible roster for the Italian squad.
