- Hamilton's Mercedes has struggled to keep up with Red Bull in recent years
- An “escape clause” inserted into the British racing driver’s contract allows for an exit in 2025
- Hamilton, 39, rejected a £40 million offer to move to Ferrari just a year ago
Lewis Hamilton is about to fulfill one of the biggest dreams of his life – by driving for Ferrari.
Mail Sport understands that the seven-time world champion has already secured a seat in the Scuderia for the 2025 season.
This confirms Mail Sport's world exclusive last May that Ferrari was in talks with Hamilton and was prepared to offer him a royal ransom of £40m to join.
He currently earns £50m a year at Mercedes, where he has won six of his seven world championships and has previously expressed his desire to remain in the sport for the rest of his time.
“They were pushing like crazy,” a source in Italy said today of those late spring talks.
Lewis Hamilton will sign for Ferrari next year, a sensational move from Mercedes
Hamilton's dream of racing for the Italian manufacturer is about to become a reality
Ferrari has persistently tried to get Hamilton to join, including making an offer last year
Hamilton tells a joke with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur in Azerbaijan last year
This story was openly denied by all parties, including Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur.
But now the Italian press has declared that the 39-year-old Hamilton is set to replace Spaniard Carlos Sainz, whose contract negotiations stalled in December. We now know why.
Opinion poll
Should Lewis Hamilton move to Ferrari?
- Yes, 1338 votes
- No 695 votes
Hamilton is under contract with Mercedes until the end of 2025, a tie that requires some breaking but is not unbreakable due to an “escape clause”.
There is no question that Hamilton has been busy driving for Ferrari his entire career.
There has been flirtation between the two parties for some time, and he has driven red street cars from the forecourt of their Beverly Hills dealership and visited the Maranello factory.
Mail Sport understands that John Elkann, the company's president, has led the initiative to sign Hamilton in what, if the move goes ahead, would likely be the final chapter of an illustrious career.
Elkann is drawn to Hamilton's superstar status as the only Formula 1 driver with truly towering fame around the world.
Nothing would crown his achievements than winning an eighth title at Ferrari – a milestone that eluded even the great Michael Schumacher, the team's most decorated champion.
Hamilton's Mercedes has been well behind championship pace for the past two seasons
Hamilton has endured two tough seasons since going head-to-head for the title with Red Bull's Max Verstappen in 2021
Hamilton has been behind Max Verstappen's Red Bull for the last two seasons
Hamilton has been at Mercedes since 2013 – pictured is managing director Toto Wolff
Hamilton signed a two-year contract extension worth £50m a year with Mercedes last August
Persuasive sources in Italy indicate that the deal has already been signed, and it appears to be so.
The change from Mercedes makes sense. They are in turmoil, a fact borne out by Hamilton's failure to increase his 103 race wins in the last two seasons.
In Ferrari's dream scenario, Hamilton would drive alongside Charles Leclerc, the old king and the young prince as a couple.
Leclerc signed a new contract last month that would increase his salary to £40m a year. Hamilton's salary would likely be even higher.
Mercedes would turn its attention to rebuilding its once impregnable company, with George Russell likely to take on the role of number 1 and leader.