A dramatic shift in Lewis Hamilton's career seems imminent as he is on the verge of making a sensational move to Ferrari for the 2025 season - a decision on his future is expected to be announced soon.
Although a final contract signing remains uncertain, negotiations are rumoured to be in an advanced stage and could reach a conclusion by the week's end.
Ferrari has harboured a longstanding interest in securing Hamilton's services. Previous attempts were rebuffed, as the seven-time champion believed Mercedes provided a more promising path to success.
However, recent developments suggest that, following two challenging seasons for Mercedes, Ferrari is on the verge of persuading Hamilton that it offers a superior future. Despite Hamilton signing a multi-year contract with Mercedes for 2024 and 2025 last year, it now appears that the second season may have been contingent on an option.
This implies that Hamilton would possess an escape clause, enabling him to join Ferrari from 2025 if he chooses to do so. Both Ferrari and Mercedes have refrained from commenting on the situation. If Hamilton's move is confirmed, it would deal a significant blow to Mercedes, which engaged in protracted contract negotiations with him last year to secure his services for the current year.
Immediately after finalising the deal, Hamilton expressed confidence that Mercedes had learned from its challenging 2022/2023 seasons and anticipated a return to glory with the team's new car for the current campaign.
Responding to Motorsport.com's inquiry at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix about doubts regarding returning to the front, Hamilton said, "No, not during negotiations. I have faith that we will get there. We've been through this before as a team, and despite the influx of new personnel, our core values and focus remain strong."
He further stated, "For this year [2023], they believed the fundamentals were solid, but it turned out not to be the case. That's why I was frustrated in February because they hadn't implemented the changes I requested. However, with the changes we are making, I hope we are on the right track."
The catalyst for a potential shift in Hamilton's commitment to Mercedes remains unclear. Initial feedback from the Mercedes wind tunnel suggests positive advancements with the new W15, and the team recently announced that team boss Toto Wolff and technical director James Allison extended their contracts for the long term.
