ROME - Italian Formula One team Scuderia Ferrari has confirmed the signing of 7-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, "on a multi-year contract." Hamilton will join the team in 2025. The announcement from Ferrari came late on Feb. 1, the transfer deadline day. 

 This move, which has shocked the F1 world, will see Hamilton leave Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. The Brit has raced for Mercedes since 2013, winning six of his seven world titles with them. 

 However, in recent seasons, Mercedes and Hamilton have struggled to challenge Red Bull and Verstappen for the title. 

 Hamilton criticised the Mercedes car routinely throughout the 2023 season, saying it was “not a race winning car” eventually leading to team boss Toto Wolff telling him over the radio mid-race “Lewis the car is bad. We know. Please drive it.” 

 He also claimed that Mercedes “did not listen” to him when he suggested improvements. It is thought that this rift between driver and team, and the car’s constant underperformance are the big factors behind his move.

 Despite this he thanked the "Mercedes family" for all their support and friendship, saying leaving Mercedes was "one of the hardest decisions" he has ever made. However Hamilton admitted "the time is right for me to take this step", saying he excited for a "new challenge." 

 This move will see a partnership between Hamilton and “il predestinato” Charles Leclerc, who extended his contract Jan. 25 to race for Ferrari “beyond” the 2024 season. 

 Leclerc, when previously asked about media speculation surrounding his “future partner at Ferrari” during a driver press conference, replied “hello Lewis” while laughing with Hamilton.

 Questions have been raised about Hamilton’s ability to win a record-breaking eighth championship, with the driver turning 40 in 2025. 

 Speculation has also begun over the future of current Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz. It was expected he would stay with Ferrari until 2026, when he is allegedly set to join new team Audi for their first season in Formula One.

 Sainz was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race last season, breaking Verstappen’s ten-race dominant streak in Singapore. 

 Hamilton, who was also on the podium in Singapore, was seen celebrating post-race with Ferrari mechanics when the Mercedes team failed to show.

 Ferrari finished the 2023 season third place in the constructors' championship, three points behind Mercedes.