01 WHY HAMILTON KICKED MERC INTO TOUCH
Few were expecting the pre-season to kick off with the driver market in sudden ferment. This was, after all, the first year in the history of the world championship in which absolute continuity had prevailed from one season to the next (see p34). And even if it was an open secret that this situation wouldn’t last, the prospects of something as jaw-dropping as the most successful driver in championship history moving to its most successful team ever seemed unlikely.
It was almost a foregone conclusion that Lewis Hamilton, who had signed a new contract with Mercedes last summer, would end his career with the team which delivered him to his greatest successes – and that he would do so having made all of his grand prix starts in cars powered by Mercedes engines. The idea that he would then become a lifelong ambassador for the brand was seen as something of a done deal in the paddock.
What we now know is that Lewis was less than happy with the offer put before him, and the result is what could be described as the most high-profile driver move in the championship’s history. Next season Hamilton will replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, saying, “I now have the chance to fulfil another childhood dream. Driving in Ferrari red.”
Behind the gloss lies the twists and turns of tough negotiations. Insiders suggest Lewis wanted a three-year deal, but Mercedes wouldn’t commit. The compromise reached six months ago was presented to the public as a two-year deal, but allowed for the possibility of termination after the first season.
The existence of such a clause was confirmed by Mercedes when the team announced Lewis would be leaving at the end of the 2024.
“We’re big boys, we knew by signing a short-term contract, it could be of benefit for both sides,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We couldn’t commit for a longer period. And he’s taken the option to exit. We totally respect that you can change your mind. There’s different circumstances. Switching to Ferrari, maybe for the last gig in his career, rolling the dice a bit.”
As for why Wolff and Mercedes weren’t able to “commit for a longer period” to Hamilton, one explanation could be Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old Italian, a member of the
Mercedes junior programme, is about to begin his f
