The eight-time Formula 1 Constructors' World Championship-winning team, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, announced on Thursday, February 1, that the seven-time Formula 1 champion, Lewis Hamilton, will no longer be behind the wheel for the German team starting the 2025 season. He's set to join Ferrari, the team with the most titles, taking over the seat from the Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and forming a partnership with Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc.

The announcements unfolded in a cascade on Thursday: the first one confirming Hamilton's departure from Mercedes, the second revealing his signing with Ferrari, and immediately following, Sainz's statement confirming that he won't continue with the Maranello team after 2024.

Hamilton, 39, clinched his first world title in 2008 with McLaren and added six more with the German team based in Brackley (UK) in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, tying the historical record of titles set by German driver Michael Schumacher.

The 29-year-old Madrid native, Sainz, with two victories and 18 podiums in F1, has a valid contract with Ferrari until the end of this season. Considering the recent announcement of the contract renewal for his current teammate, Monegasque Charles Leclerc, Hamilton's signing, who also holds the historical records for victories (103) and poles (104) in the top category with the 'Scuderia,' leads to the departure of the Spanish driver from the team.