FERRARI pulled off a major deal by signing Lewis Hamilton to a mega contract – but the F1 legend will continue to drive for Mercedes this season.
It was announced on February 1, 2024, that Hamilton had triggered a secret clause that would see him drive for F1’s most famous team.
And the deal for the seven-time world champion to join Ferrari is worth a staggering £100million.
Hamilton would love nothing more than to follow up on this huge move with a championship win in the 2024 season.
But fans are confused as to why the British mogul continues to represent Mercedes even after the paperwork has been signed.
Why is Lewis Hamilton still driving for Mercedes?
Lewis Hamilton will still drive for Mercedes as he confirmed that he was committed to finishing the season before starting life with Ferrari in 2025.
Read more on Lewis Hamilton
The British icon said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
“Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.
“But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together.
“I am 100 percent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
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Why did Lewis Hamilton switch from Mercedes to Ferrari?
Lewis Hamilton signed a new two-year contract extension with Mercedes last summer which included a release clause that would allow the F1 legend to move elsewhere if triggered.
And after lengthy rumours going back from 2018 about Hamilton joining Ferrari, the deal has finally been agreed.
The British icon once revealed on Sky Italy that driving for Ferrari is a ‘dream’ team to represent.
In 2021, Hamilton said: “It’s definitely going to be crazy to think that I never drove for Ferrari because for everyone, that is a dream position to be in.”
He added: “It was never fully on the cards for me, and I’ll never know exactly fully why but I wish them all the best and I want to spend the next bit of my time stopping them from winning the championship.
“I look at the pictures that the two drivers post and the red is ‘still the red'”.
Full F1 2024 race calendar
Below is the full calendar for the 2024 season and the final campaign where Lewis Hamilton will drive for Mercedes.
🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
