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      Top 10 richest F1 drivers in history revealed as Lewis Hamilton dwarfs Max Verstappen… but misses out on top spot

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      FORMULA ONE is well known as a glamour sport where vast riches can be both acquired and shown off.And the top drivers in the sport can amass wealth that rivals any of the highest-earning athletes in the world.
      Max Verstappen has the biggest salary in Formula OneCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton has a huge portfolio that has earned him a staggering amount of wealthCredit: PA
      The likes of Jenson Button remain key figures behind the scenes in F1Credit: Rex
      The 2023 grid – which has remained the same for the upcoming 2024 season – saw drivers earning huge sums topped out at a whopping £45million for reigning champion Max Verstappen.
      But over the course of an F1 career the figures are even more staggering, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher reaching mega-wealth status.
      Accounting for the huge salaries some drivers command, plus sponsorship deals and property portfolios, net worths are in the region of hundreds of millions.
      Below we take a look at the top ten F1 drivers in history with the highest net worth, according to figures compiled by Planet F1 and GQ Australia.
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      10. Eddie Irvine – £92.5million
      Eddie Irvine battled it out for an F1 title in the 1990sCredit: Getty – Contributor
      He owns a property empire said to include 40 properties
      He flogged a plush Irish mansion for £2.6m in 2021
      A four-time race winner in F1 who battled it out with the likes of Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s.
      However, Eddie Irvine never managed to get his hands on an F1 drivers title.
      Instead, much of his wealth comes from investment into an estimated 40 properties worldwide, including an Irish mansion he sold to Matt Damon in 2021.
      According to the Sunday Times Rich List in 2006 this made him the fifth richest person in Northern Ireland.
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      9. Mario Andretti – £100.1million
      Mario Andretti is one of three racers to win races in F1, Indycar, Nascar and the World Sportscar ChampionshipCredit: X @MarioAndretti
      Andretti owns a stunning 18,513 square foot property in Pennsylvania, USACredit: X @MarioAndretti
      An icon of motorsport, Andretti is one of three drivers to win races in F1, Indycar, Nascar and the World Sportscar Championship.
      Some of his wealth includes an 18,513 square feet property in Nazareth, PA, USA, that features four bedroooms, 15 bathrooms and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
      He has seen corners on streets and race tracks alike named after him and is now gearing up for a team move into F1.
      So his inclusion in this list should be little surprise.
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      8. Sebastian Vettel – £107.9million
      Sebastian Vettel’s F1 career earned him a fortuneCredit: Splash
      Since retiring Vettel has invested in green projectsCredit: Getty
      Vettel has a stunning car collection including the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGCredit: tomhartleyjnr.com
      Four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is a name synonymous with motorsport despite keeping a fairly low profile away from the track which has included a visit to a top German medical clinic.
      Green-fingered Vettel commanded one of the highest salaries in the sport during his time with Red Bull, Ferrari and Aston Martin.
      Vettel also has a stunning car collection including the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG worth £175,000.
      Since retiring he has invested in green projects in a bid to tackle climate change.
      7. Jenson Button – £115.6million
      Jenson Button has amassed a huge fortuneCredit: Instagram
      Jenson Button married Brittny Ward in 2022Credit: brittny/Instagram
      Button’s car collection includes a 2015 McLaren P1 GTRCredit: SWNS
      Shock 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button continues to be a familiar face in the sport thanks to his TV appearances and recent role in the Brawn documentary as well as being a senior adviser to Williams F1.
      Button, who finished third on his Daytona 24 hours debut, has a large property portfolio and was reportedly one of F1’s biggest earners even before he landed his one and only title.
      He has also taken a liking to cars and has owned a stunning garage, with which he can chaperone wife Brittany Ward around in.
      These have included a McLaren P1, a Bugatti Veyron and Ferrari 275 GT.
      6. Kimi Raikkonen – £140.6million
      Kimi Raikkonen was one of F1’s best paid drivers during his time on the gridCredit: Instagram @mintturaikkonen
      Raikkonen owns a stunning ‘Bond villian-like lair’ which houses an impressive motor collectionCredit: Instagram @kimimatiasraikkonen
      A one-time F1 title champion like Button, “The Iceman” could command one of the highest salaries in the sport during his peak and famously almost bankrupt Lotus during his time with the team.
      Like some of his former rivals, Raikkonen is a property investor – including a $24m Swiss villa – and he is now helping his son Robin with his own motorsport career.
      The villa in question has been dubbed a “Bond villian-like lair” which houses an impressive collection of motors including a £$360,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith Black Badge and a $3.6million Ferrari Enzo.
      Raikkonen is also said to own three homes in Finland, and have properties in Dubai and Thailand.
      5. Niki Lauda – £154.1million
      Niki Lauda played an integral role in Lewis Hamilton joining MercedesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Lauda ran airlines after retiring from the sportCredit: Reuters
      The three-time World Champion was the only man to win the title at both Ferrari and Mercedes.
      After retiring from F1, he founded and ran three successful airlines, Lauda Air, Niki and Lauda.
      He also stayed in and around the paddock with his former teams, Jaguar and owned 10 per cent of Mercedes Motorsport.
      Lauda passed away aged 70 in 2019.
      4. Max Verstappen – £165.5million
      Verstappen is dating Kelly PiquetCredit: instagram/@kellypiquet/
      Verstappen lives in Monaco and has invested in his own GT team
      Verstappen’s car collection includes an Acura NSX Type S worth around £122,000Credit: Acura
      At present, Verstappen has commanded the most lucrative F1 contract for the past two seasons when accounting for bonuses.
      Verstappen has invested in his own GT team, is an ambassador for EA Sports and has a host of personal sponsors, all of which helped him earn a place in Forbes’ 2023 list of sports top young earners.
      He also has a great affinity for cars, with his collection worth around £2.3m.
      Verstappen also lives in Monaco, which is not exactly on the cheap end of the property market.
      3. Fernando Alonso – £205million
      Fernando Alonso is F1’s most experienced driverCredit: Splash
      The Spaniard naturally has a Ferrari in his collectionCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs0iZ8Cor2q/
      Alonso also owns a McLaren P1Credit: INSTAGRAM @fernandoalo_oficial
      F1’s most experienced driver, and also one of its best, it should come as no surprise to see two-time champion Fernando Alonso high on the list.
      As well as commanding huge contracts, Alonso has invested into the next generation with his Alonso Sports Complex in his native Asturias which features a museum and a karting track.
      Like many others in this list the Spaniard owns a number of supercars.
      These include a McLaren P1, Aston Martin DBX luxury SUV and Ferrari 599 GTB Fernando Alonso Edition.
      2. Lewis Hamilton – £224.7million
      Lewis Hamilton has invested in a wide array of projects
      Hamilton often jets around the world during the off seasonCredit: Instagram / @lewishamilton
      Hamilton invested in the Denver Broncos in 2022Credit: https://www.instagram.com/lewishamilton/
      Hamilton was recently labelled a “brand” due to his involvement in so many projects.
      Expected to earn £50million at Mercedes during the 2024 season, Hamilton is a cool earner salary wise.
      Hamilton has investments in property, cars, fashion and initiatives encouraging wider representation in sport and even teams, with Hamilton investing in NFL side Denver Broncos in 2022.
      Luckily a wide range of sponsors including the likes of Tommy Hilfiger, IWC and Bose allow him to fund this far reaching influence which has landed on him on the Sunday Times Rich List.
      1. Michael Schumacher – £462.5million
      Michael Schumacher is top of the F1 driver rich listCredit: AFP
      Schumacher owns a Ferrari Enzo
      An era defining driver for many fans of motorsport, the seven-time F1 champion was named the highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 1999 and 2000 and even predicted to be the first billionaire athlete in 2005.
      In 2017, he was named as the fifth-highest athlete of all time in terms of career earnings, but he has not been seen publicly since his life-changing skiing accident in 2013.
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      The German was well-known for his charitable donations, including a £39.5m donation to UNESCO during his final five years of racing.
      Predictably, Schumacher and his family have a worldwide real estate portfolio, while Schumacher also earned a staggering amount through brand endorsements, including a £8.5m deal to wear a shell hat and show its logo in nearly all public appearances.

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      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s bombshell Mercedes exit as Toto Wolff reveals how F1 star went to his house to break news

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      TOTO WOLFF felt like he has been “punched in the nose” after Lewis Hamilton dropped the bombshell he was quitting Mercedes to join Ferrari.Mercedes boss Wolff says he had heard rumours of Hamilton’s defection for the 2025 season but did not want to believe them.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join Ferrari next seasonCredit: Alamy
      And revealed he only discovered Hamilton was off after the Brit told him over breakfast on Wednesday.
      Wolff says it is at a loss to understand what has convinced the 39-year-old to jump ship after only agreeing a two-year deal last summer.
      Wolff said: “What happened is that we got together for coffee at my place in Oxford when he was returning to the factory and he said to me that he had decided to race for Ferrari in 2025.”
      Wolff added: “The surprise was that I’d heard the rumours a couple of days earlier but wanted to wait for the breakfast we had planned.
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      “It was Wednesday morning and this is when he broke the news…once he said this is what I wanted to do, I didn’t try to convince him otherwise.”
      Hamilton and Wolff have struck up a great friendship during their 11 years at Mercedes but admits he was stunned to discover his star driver is off to their rivals.
      The move is particularly upsetting given that Wolff is also chums with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur who has persuaded Hamilton to change teams.
      Wolff added: “I have great respect for Fred, not only as a racing manager, but also as a longtime friend.
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      “On the relationship. It is a tough competition, a cutthroat environment and as much as I try to do the best for our group, he will do that for Ferrari.
      “It’s a little bit like rugby. We punch each other in the nose, but we are able to get off the pitch and have a respectful relationship.”
      Hamilton only agreed a two-year deal last summer and Wolff says his discussions with the Brit over the winter were only focussed on Mercedes.
      And the Austrian says he is at a loss to understand what has caused Hamilton to change his mind.
      He said: “I cannot tell you exactly [what caused Hamilton to change]. I only know that we were very aligned when we went into the Christmas period.
      “We’ve said that in public and in the team. You need to ask Lewis why he changed his mind.

      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff learned of Hamilton’s exit during breakfastCredit: Getty
      “How he framed it to me was that he needed a new challenge and that he was looking for a different environment and it was maybe the last possibility to do something else.
      “We totally respect that. You can change your mind and switch to Ferrari maybe for the last gig in his career, maybe rolling the dice a bit.”
      Wolff will now turn his attention to picking Hamilton’s replacement to drive alongside George Russell.
      With Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris both signing new long-term deals at Ferrari and McLaren respectively, he admits his options are more-limited.
      He added: “Some drivers will be coming available, others just signed a few weeks ago, so these would have been opportunities six weeks earlier.
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      “But it is what it is. In 2025 and beyond the driver market is very interesting and we need to look out to the future.
      “Who is it that we can partner with George? What’s the best combination? There’s a variety of options and I want to take my time.”
      WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.
      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton. More

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      Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut ‘leaked’ in cryptic hint at major shakeup to F1 calendar

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S first race as a Ferrari driver has been “leaked” by an iconic Formula One track.Hamilton, 39, rocked the world of motorsport by yesterday signing a shock deal with Ferrari from the 2025 season.
      The venue of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut may have been leakedCredit: AFP
      The Australia Grand Prix posted this graphic on their page before deleting itCredit: X @ausgrandprix
      He will become the 12th British racer to drive a Ferrari in F1 as he bids to win a record eighth world title.
      The official Australia Grand Prix account posted a graphic suggesting Hamilton’s Ferrari debut would be at Albert Park in 2025 rather than in Bahrain where the season starts this year on March 2.
      However, the post was swiftly deleted.
      There has been no confirmation yet on the venue of the 2025 season opener.
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      It would be a major shakeup to the calendar not seen for six years.
      Australia previously hosted the season opener for F1 seasons between 2011 and 2019.
      Before Melbourne, Adelaide was Australia’s resident F1 circuit from 1985 to 1995, though Adelaide was never a track which kick started an F1 season.
      This run came to an end when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with Austria taking over the mantle that season.
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      Bahrain have hosted each of the opening races since 2021.
      Between 1996 and 2019, Albert Park in Melbourne played host to F1 season openers in all but two years.
      Hamilton will pocked £100million to join Ferrari in a switch that has shocked F1.
      The seven-time world champion agreed to drive for F1’s most famous team in 2025 and 2026.
      In a statement issued by Mercedes, Hamilton, 39, said he was committed to finishing the season with Mercedes before taking on a new challenge.
      He 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.
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      “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.”
      WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.
      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.

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      What happened to Ferrari’s 11 British F1 drivers including last winner 60 YEARS AGO as Lewis Hamilton joins elite club

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S stunning transfer to Ferrari has shocked the world of Formula One.Motorsport fans around the globe will remember February 1 as the date Hamilton officially cut ties with Mercedes following a 26-year association.
      Lewis Hamilton has sealed a shock move to FerrariCredit: PA
      He joins the likes of Nigel Mansell on a prestigious list of British Ferrari F1 driversCredit: Rex Features
      Hamilton’s career with Mercedes
      Seven world drivers titles, 103 race wins, 104 podiums and a legion of other records to boot. To say his career backed by Mercedes power has been a success would be an understatement.
      Having signed a £100million contract with Mercedes in summer 2023, Hamilton then used a break clause in his deal to seal his switch to Ferrari.
      Hamilton will drive for the Scuderia from 2025 after signing a “multi-year contract” worth £100m.
      His goal with the Italian constructor will no doubt be to win a historic eighth title if he cannot manage it in his final season with the Silver Arrows.
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      However, Hamilton is not the only Brit to have driven in the scarlet red of the Prancing Horse.
      That being said, if he is to win Ferrari’s first driver title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 he will be fighting against history stretching back 60 YEARS.
      But who are Hamilton’s predecessors?
      Below we take a look at the 11 previous drivers to have got behind the wheel at Ferrari.
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      Peter Whitehead
      Peter Whitehead pictured drinking a beer in a FerrariCredit: 2015 Getty Images
      Peter Whitehead raced for Ferrari at the birth of F1 in 1950.
      An amateur pre-war racer and RAF pilot, Whitehead raced in 12 F1 races, achieving one podium before he left the sport in 1954.
      Following the second world war Whitehead returned to racing and worked his way to purchasing a Ferrari 125 from Enzo Ferrari, contesting nine Grand Prix with it.
      Whitehead’s most noteworthy exploits came in outside of F1 however, winning the 1951 Le Mans 24 Hours race. He was killed in 1958 while competing in the Tour de France.
      Mike Hawthorn
      Mike Hawthorn was the first Briton to win the F1 world championshipCredit: SSPL/Manchester Daily Express
      “Farnham Flyer” Mike Hawthorn joined Ferrari in 1953 and raced with them until 1958 and became famed for wearing a bow tie during races.
      Battling with the likes of F1 legend Juan Manuel Fangio, Hawthorn came close to title success in 1954 as he won three podiums and won in Spain.
      However, he would not land a title until 1958, becoming the first Brit to win an F1 title in the Ferrari 246 in a title battle with Sir Stirling Moss.
      Hawthorn would retire from racing in 1958 but would tragically die in a car accident on the A3 Guildford Bypass on January 22 1959.
      Peter Collins
      Peter Collins won three races in F1Credit: 2009 Getty Images
      Peter Collins raced his first season with Ferrari in 1956.
      He earned Enzo Ferrari’s respect that season when he gave up his own world title ambitions by handing his car over to Fangio at Monza.
      Collins was active in F1 for six years, with his final win in F1 coming at Silverstone in 1958.
      He died while racing around the Nurburgring just three weeks later.
      Tony Brooks
      Tony Brooks won two races with Ferrari during his F1 careerCredit: Getty
      Tony Brooks joined Ferrari in 1959 following the deaths of Hawthorn and Collins.
      He won two races in Reims and Germany to hand him a shot at the title.
      But the title dream would fall short after an ultimately needless pit-stop at Sebring, USA, following a collision with Wolfgang von Trips.
      Unlike many unfortunate racers in the era, Brooks retired from motorsport and lived a long life, only passing away in 2022 aged 90.
      Cliff Allison
      Injuries thwarted Cliff Allison’s promising careerCredit: Getty
      Cliff Allison joined Ferrari as part of its stable of drivers for the 1959-1960 F1 season.
      However, after just six races he saw his career cut short. Following a second place finish in Argentina, a crash at the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix saw Allison hurled from his cockpit and was sidelined for a year.
      Allison woke up in a hospital speaking French despite never learning the language.
      He returned to F1 in 1961 with Lotus but suffered a double leg break at the Belgium Grand Prix, ending a promising career. Allison died in 2005 aged 73.
      John Surtees
      John Surtees won world championships in F1 and on motorcyclesCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The last man to win the F1 title at Ferrari, John Surtees was proficient in both F1 and motorcycle racing and is famed as a world champion on four and two wheels.
      He was active for 12 years in F1, winning six races including two in 1964 on route to a championship.
      Things eventually turned sour between driver and team however, leaving Ferrari in a rage in 1966.
      Surtees died of respiratory failure in 2017 at the age of 83.
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      Mike Parkes
      Mike Parkes raced six races in FerrariCredit: Getty
      Mike Parkes raced for Ferrari in the 1966 and 1967 F1 seasons following a seven-year break from the sport he had made his debut in in 1959.
      Podiums in the French and Italian Grand Prix in 1966 showed off his promise before he suffered a leg-break in Belgium ended his career prematurely.
      Parkes was also a racer in sports cars, winning the British Saloon Car Championship in 1961.
      He died in 1977 aged 45.
      Jonathan Williams
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his careerCredit: Getty
      Jonathan Williams made just one F1 start in his racing career, but making it for Ferrari means he makes this list.
      Williams one F1 race in Mexico saw him finish 8th.
      He retired in 1972 and became a pilot, before switching to be a writer and photographer.
      Williams died on in 2014 aged 71.
      Derek Bell
      Derek Bell is the most successful Brit in Le Mans historyCredit: Getty
      Derek Bell is best known for his career in sportscars.
      But the two F1 starts he made for Ferrari put him on this list even though he did not do great in the seat.
      A lack of opportunities prompted him to move on from the team in 1969, before he would go on to win Le Mans five times to make him the most successful Brit to race in it to date.
      Born in 1941, Bell has also won the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice.
      Nigel Mansell
      Nigel Mansell was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before he diedCredit: 2019 Getty Images
      Nigel Mansell became the first driver to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari for more than 20 years when he joined the Prancing Horses in 1989.
      Things started off well with a win at the Brazilian Grand Prix, but that would prove to be a false-dawn amid reliability issues.
      Mansell would eventually leave the team at the end of 1990 to rejoin Williams, where “Mansellmania” was born as he won a championship in 1992.
      “‘Il Leone” as he was known to the Tifosi, was the last driver confirmed by Enzo Ferrari before his death. These days Mansell is enjoying retirement with a number of successful business enterprises.
      Eddie Irvine
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of a title at FerrariCredit: Bongarts
      Eddie Irvine came within touching distance of an F1 title in 1999, winning four races.
      However, he was unable to match Michael Schumacher in his prime and promptly left at the end of the season before retiring from F1 in 2002.
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      Irvine has since gone on to become a successful businessman which has earned him an incredible net worth.
      He is the last Brit to race for Ferrari, and 20 years on Hamilton will follow in Irvine’s footsteps aiming for an eighth title to eclipse none-other than Schumacher.

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      How Lewis Hamilton’s sensational move to Ferrari was revealed by hidden clue in beer advert – so can you spot it?

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S bombshell move to Ferrari was revealed in a BEER advert earlier this week – but everybody missed it.The legendary seven-time world champion announced on Thursday that he has agreed to drive for F1’s most famous team in 2025 and 2026.
      There is a clue in this advert from Peroni announcing their Ferrari sponsorship – but can you see it?Credit: Peroni/Ferrari
      Lewis Hamilton has agreed a bombshell package to join Ferrari in 2025Credit: EPA
      Hamilton, who will see out this season with Mercedes, has signed a £100million mega deal in a switch that has shocked F1.
      However, now it has emerged that the Brit’s big news was actually already out there and hiding in plain sight.
      Ferrari and beer brand Peroni entered a new sponsorship partnership this week.
      And during the announcement of that, they appear to have given away the secret early.
      READ MORE ON LEWIS HAMILTON
      Ferrari and Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% have joined forces in a multi-year partnership and confirmed the deal on Wednesday.
      To celebrate, Peroni released a graphic that had several Ferrari items alongside their iconic bottle of alcohol-free beer.
      But it seems something about the miniature red racing car featured in the advert when completely unnoticed.
      Can you see it in the image above?
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      The huge clue is the 44 plastered on the miniature car.
      That, of course, is Hamilton’s lucky racing number, and it is only now that fans are beginning to realise that the big move was there staring them straight in the face.
      He previously revealed: “When I started racing when I was eight, the number plate on my dad’s car – he had this red Cavalier – was F44.
      “So he used 44 – it was his idea. And then it became the family lucky number.”

      Hamilton’s exit is a huge blow to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff ahead of the new F1 season, which kicks off in Bahrain on March 2nd.
      But he is adamant that he remains committed to finishing the season with Mercedes before taking on a new challenge as he chases a record eight title crown.
      He 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. 
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      “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 per cent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
      Did you spot Hamilton’s racing number hidden on the car in the ad?WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.

      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton. More

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      Inside Hamilton’s shock Ferrari move, fuelled by Schumacher rivalry with F1 star to be frozen out of Mercedes meetings

      by

      THERE is a delicious irony in Lewis Hamilton deciding his best chance of a record eighth F1 title lies with Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari team.The two drivers are tied on seven world championships apiece with Hamilton 103-91 ahead on race wins.
      Lewis Hamilton has completed a shock move to Ferrari from the start of the 2025 seasonCredit: AFP
      Hamilton will look to emulate Michael Schumacher when he pulls on the red overallsCredit: AFP
      The Briton will be 40 when he pulls on the red race-overalls to drive for F1’s most iconic team in 2025 — but don’t let that fool you into thinking he is over the hill.
      Hamilton could have stayed with Mercedes where he had a contract in place for next year but instead of sticking, has decided to twist.
      It is not motivated by money — rather his desire to secure that elusive eighth world crown.
      Despite Red Bull making it clear they did not see him as part of their future, Hamilton appears to have run out of confidence in Mercedes after they delivered two dud cars in successive seasons.
      READ MORE ON HAMILTON
      Just as Schumacher did when he joined Ferrari in 1996, Hamilton has the potential to galvanise the Italian team and turn them into world-beaters.
      The reality is he needs Ferrari as much as they need him to help deliver their first constructors’ title since 2008.
      Hamilton’s move is unexpected — despite incorrect reports saying it was done last summer — but not out of character.
      When he quit McLaren in 2012 to join Mercedes the following season, many questioned the logic.
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      McLaren were regular winners and Mercedes were not.
      But the late Niki Laudi sold Hamilton on the Silver Arrows’ vision for 2014 and beyond — a new era of regulations with hybrid engines — and he joined a year ahead of those changes.
      He went on to add SIX titles to the one he won in 2008 at McLaren in a crushing spell of dominance.
      Fast forward 11 years and we are faced with a similar prospect. New rules are coming in for 2026 — and Hamilton is going a year earlier.This time, Fred Vasseur delivered the pitch and Hamilton knows the Ferrari team principal well, having won the GP2 title in 2006 for his ART team.
      The pace at which the deal was concluded, as he exercised the break-clause in his Mercedes deal, clearly caught his current employers out.
      Mercedes hurriedly briefed their staff on Thursday that their star driver was off — a killer blow ahead of a new season which starts in Bahrain on March 2.
      So what next? Hamilton faces a tricky 11 months at a team who know he is departing for their rivals.
      For the first time in his career he will be the outsider in his own team and excluded from meetings about the development of Mercedes’ challenger for 2025.
      Schumacher and Hamilton are tied on seven world titles eachCredit: EPAWHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.

      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.

      But one thing for sure —  Hamilton will want to go out with a bang.
      He is desperate for a race  win to end the longest wait of his career — stretching back to the penultimate race of the 2021 season in Saudi Arabia before he lost his world crown to Max Verstappen.
      His arrival will be a shot in the arm to Ferrari and act as a wake-up call to eradicate the  operational mistakes which have cost them in recent years.
      He was personally selected by Ferrari chairman John Elkann, a long-term admirer of Hamilton’s talent.
      It will also add pressure on Charles Leclerc, the Ferrari driver who has just signed a new deal with the team but has a poor conversation rate of five wins in 23 pole positions.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      It makes for an exciting prospect and is the shot in the arm F1 needed after Verstappen’s dominance in 2023.
      We might have to wait another year before the Red Bull ace is seriously challenged but the prospect of Verstappen being challenged by Hamilton in a Ferrari is tantalising. More

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      Lewis Hamilton breaks silence on Ferrari move in emotional 134-word statement after bombshell Mercedes exit

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      LEWIS HAMILTON bid an emotional farewell to Mercedes as he confirmed his shock exit.The legendary driver will leave the Silver Arrows at the end of 2024, with Ferrari confirmed Hamilton WILL join them for 2025 and 2026 after penning a whopping £100million contract.
      Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024Credit: PA
      But as the news of his Mercedes departure was announced at 7pm, he broke his silence with a classy message.
      Hamilton, 39, 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.
      READ MORE IN F1
      “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 per cent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
      Hamilton activated a clause in his latest contract to trigger his exit.
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      It means the Stevenage star will depart after an 18-year partnership with Mercedes in Formula One.
      From his debut season in 2007 to 2012, Hamilton raced for McLaren Mercedes.
      And in 2013, he joined the Brackley giants’ F1 team, winning six of his world championship titles.
      He came second to team-mate Nico Rosberg in 2016 before agonisingly being pipped on the final lap of the 2021 season by Max Verstappen.
      After a nightmare year in 2022, he bounced back to finish third in the drivers’ championship – but his long wait for a chequered flag goes on.
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff – who must find a replacement for Hamilton – added: “In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that’s something we can look back on with pride.
      “Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history.

      “However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come.
      “We accept Lewis’s decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate.
      “But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024.”
      Ferrari confirmed the news minutes after Mercedes, releasing their own statement that simply said: “Scuderia Ferrari is pleased to announce that Lewis Hamilton will be joining the team in 2025, on a multi-year contract.”
      The bombshell switch will see him partner Charles Leclerc and comes after Red Bull had made it clear they did not see Hamilton in their team.
      And that spells the end for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.
      The Spaniard tweeted: “Following today’s news, Scuderia Ferrari and myself will part ways at the end of 2024.
      “We still have a long season ahead of us and, like always, I will give my absolute best for the team and for the Tifosi all around the world.
      “News about my future will be announced in due course.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      SunSport understands Hamilton brokered the deal himself thanks to swift negotiations with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur.
      The two are friends and in 2006 Hamilton won the GP2 title driving for Vasseur’s ART teams.
      Toto Wolff paid tribute to his departing legendCredit: Splash
      Hamilton will wear the famous red of the Scuderia in 2025 and 2026Credit: AP
      Carlos Sainz announced his exit minutes after the Hamilton news brokeCredit: Reuters More

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      ‘The ghost of Enzo Ferrari came to me…’ F1 host had ‘vision’ that Lewis Hamilton was going to join Ferrari

      by

      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON sent shockwaves around the world when it was announced he will be joining Ferrari.Hamilton, 39, is poised to end his glittering 11-year stint with Mercedes to join the Formula One giants for the 2025 season despite agreeing a two-year deal with his current team.

      Sir Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes to join FerrariCredit: Getty
      Steve Jones claims Enzo Ferrari told him Hamilton is joining FerrariCredit: AFP
      F1 fans were left stunned following the announcement, except one – Channel 4 presenter Steve Jones.
      Jones claimed he has known about Sir Lewis’ imminent move to Ferrari since last May.
      The TV host linked up with Hamilton’s soon-to-be ex-teammate George Russell for an interview in Monaco.
      And that is when the presenter told Russell he would be losing his partner because of a vision he had.
      Read More on F1
      And in it he saw none other than Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari – who died in 1988 – telling him Hamilton is joining his team.
      Jones said almost nine months ago: “It’s happening. I’ve seen it in one of my visions.
      “The ghost of Enzo Ferrari came to me and he said, ‘Lewis, you are coming to Ferrari’.
      “It’s happening. We can’t stop it at this point.”
      Most read in MotorsportWHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES?Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.

      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell at the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton.

      F1 insiders believe the deal could be completed within the next 24 hours in a bombshell move that would see Hamilton partner Charles Leclerc.
      Mercedes are yet to officially confirm the Brit’s departure, but SunSport understands that staff were told of his exit in a ten-minute meeting today.
      The legendary driver has been without a win since December 2021 following a string of losses to rival Max Verstappen.
      Hamilton will be hoping this move finally lands him a record eighth world championship – when he is 40 years old.

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