In one fell swoop, Lewis Hamilton single-handedly saved Deadline Day.
Forget that the transfer window ends with a whimper. The news that the seven-time world champion was about to make a surprise move to Ferrari caused enough fireworks to light up several New Year's Eve celebrations.
The Brit is ready to join Scuderia next year in what would be a fairytale end to an extraordinary Formula 1 career.
The bombshell came less than a year after Hamilton denied talks with the Italian brand over a huge £40million deal.
Instead, Hamilton signed a multi-year, £100m deal to stay at Mercedes through 2024 and 2025, but it now appears an “escape clause” has been inserted into the contract.
Lewis Hamilton is reportedly set to join Ferrari in a spectacular move in 2025
The Brit is expected to join Charles Leclerc (right) in the Scuderia after leaving Mercedes
Leclerc signed a new contract with Ferrari earlier this week that will keep him with the Italian team beyond the end of the 2024 season
While the timing of the deal is unexpected, the feeling that Hamilton and Ferrari were always meant for each other was always hard to ignore.
And for a good reason. Despite all its recent difficulties, Ferrari remains arguably the biggest name in the sport.
The Italian team hasn't won a world title since 2008, but its 16 constructors' titles remain well ahead of a Formula 1 record.
To put the number into context, that's more than Mercedes and Red Bull, the sport's two giants over the last two decades, have achieved together.
It's not just about the rough statistics, because Ferrari embodies Formula 1 premier class on a level that none of its competitors have ever been able to achieve.
Then there's Hamilton, statistically the greatest driver the sport has ever seen.
The 39-year-old leads the all-time rankings for most Formula 1 victories and pole positions and his seven world championship titles are only bettered by Scuderia's greatest hero, Michael Schumacher.
A move to Ferrari would offer Hamilton the chance to finally eclipse the German, who has won five titles in a row with the Italian team.
Hamilton told a joke with Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur in Azerbaijan last year
Together with Michael Schumacher, Hamilton has won a record seven world championship titles
The German won five world titles in a row during an extraordinary run with Ferrari
Hamilton replaced Schumacher at Mercedes at the start of the 2013 season after he retired for the second and final time
Hamilton was stunned when he was presented with Schumacher's helmet in 2020
As Mail Sport reported last year, the Hamilton family have long harbored an inhibiting desire to one day see Lewis drive for Ferrari.
His father Anthony revealed this while he was still his son's manager, not long after Lewis made an unforgettable impression on his debut in 2007.
He may also have been influenced by the knowledge that his hero, Ayrton Senna, was supposed to drive for Ferrari in 1995 but died at Imola the year before.
Hamilton was stunned when he was presented with Schumacher's helmet in 2020 after equaling the German's then record of 91 Formula 1 victories.
“Seeing his dominance for so long, I didn't think I would come anywhere close to Michael in terms of records, so it's an incredible honor.” “It's going to take some time to get used to” he told Sky Sports.
“I remember sitting and watching races with my brother and dad every Sunday and watching Michael charge to the front.
“We watched the first half and at the end me and my brother were upstairs playing a computer game and I was Michael. “I was always Michael, he was phenomenal.”
While Hamilton and Ferrari have long exchanged interested glances on the dance floor, the Scuderia's advances have become bolder over the past year.
In May, Mail Sport revealed that the Italian team were prepared to break the bank to sign the superstar in a £40million deal.
Discussions about the move went so far that company president John Elkann, who was in close contact with the British driver, was also involved.
Hamilton's family had long wanted to see him drive for Ferrari
Hamilton and his father Anthony (right) talk to then Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali at the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix
Hamilton and Ferrari have been flirting on the Formula 1 dance floor for a long time
Hamilton ultimately decided to stay with Mercedes, believing the German team represented the best opportunity to stop Red Bull's dominance.
But Ferrari were linked with the Stevenage-born star back in 2015, just two years after he shocked Formula 1 by swapping McLaren for Mercedes.
When asked if he would sign with Ferrari, Hamilton said at the time: “No, don't be silly.” My contract with Mercedes is due to expire this week. There’s no reason why not.”
Hamilton, who owns one of just 499 existing models of the £1m LaFerrari supercar, signed a £20m deal and went on to win five more titles with the Silver Arrows.
But Mercedes' stranglehold on the sport has now loosened and Red Bull are clearly the team to beat since Max Verstappen won his first world title in highly controversial circumstances in Abu Dhabi in 2021.
Hamilton finished third in the drivers' championship in 2023, an astonishing 341 points behind Verstappen, who became world champion for the third time in a row.
And after two challenging seasons for Mercedes, it is believed Ferrari have convinced Hamilton that he has a better chance of success with them.
Hamilton's departure will be a huge blow for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who signed a new two-year contract with the German team last month
Carlos Sainz could make way at Ferrari as Hamilton joins the team in 2025
The Briton is expected to replace Carlos Sainz, whose contract expires at the end of the season and whose contract has not yet been renewed.
Charles Leclerc has no such concerns, having signed a new contract with the team last week to drive for Ferrari beyond the end of 2024.
The dynamic between the Monegasque and Hamilton will certainly be fascinating, as neither is suited to a minor role in the team.
Time will tell whether the marriage between Hamilton and Ferrari will be successful, but it has long seemed inevitable.