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      Five stars who could replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes including McLaren ace and 17-year-old wonderkid

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s switch to Ferrari is set to be confirmed within hours – leaving Mercedes with a vacant seat for 2025.The seven-time world champion will end his 11-year spell with Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season.
      Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of 2024Credit: Splash
      He is set to join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next term, with Carlos Sainz in line to leave the Italian team.
      Mercedes now have to scout another driver to replace the F1 legend, with a few names already among the candidates.
      SunSport 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 Pisatri, 22.
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      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.
      Oscar Piastri enjoyed an outstanding debut season in F1 last yearCredit: PA
      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-hassel and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35.
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      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.
      Daniel Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri midway through the 2023 seasonCredit: Getty
      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.
      Toto Wolff is a huge fan of Kimi AntonelliCredit: Getty
      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.
      Mick Schumacher is currently Mercedes’ reserve driverCredit: Getty
      Alex Albon
      A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick.
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      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.
      Alex Albon is also among the potential candidatesCredit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton announcement sees Ferrari value skyrocket by over £3BILLION

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      FERRARI’S value has skyrocketed by over £3billion following the news Lewis Hamilton is set to join in 2025.The seven-time world champion has reportedly told Mercedes staff he will leave at the end of the 2024 F1 season.
      Lewis Hamilton’s potential arrival has seen Ferrari’s share price skyrocketCredit: PA
      It is understood he will then join Ferrari next year, partnering Charles Leclerc on the grid.
      Following the news on Thursday, Ferrari’s share price has increased by six per cent, with their value has rising by £3.16billion.
      The Italian firm also announced their financial results on the same day the Hamilton news broke.
      Growth in revenues and earnings were confirmed by Ferrari for the 2023 financial year.
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      Hamilton’s potential arrival comes thanks to a break clause in the two-year deal he signed with Mercedes last season.
      The clause allows him to leave the team at the end of 2024, with Ferrari set to swoop for the British driver.
      He is expected to replace Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and partner Leclerc next year.
      Hamilton’s exit will bring to an end an 11-year association with Mercedes, which began in 2013.
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      During that time, he has won six world titles, including four in a row between 2017 and 2020.
      However, he is without a race win since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
      The 39-year-old was able to secure three second-place finishes last season, though, in Australia, Spain and Mexico.
      He ended the 2023 Drivers’ Championship in third behind Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. More

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      Lewis Hamilton to be blocked from Mercedes meetings and alienated by Toto Wolff but could break title record at Ferrari

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      LEWIS HAMILTON can most-definitely win a record eighth world title with Ferrari.The Brit will have just turned 40 when he suits-up in red overalls to start his career driving for F1’s most famous team.
      Lewis Hamilton will move from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025Credit: PA
      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff looks set to cut Hamilton out of team meetingsCredit: Reuters

      There will be those who say he is over the hill, too old, not sharp enough – rubbish! Hamilton is exactly the man Ferrari needs – and he needs them too.
      To those who are questioning his decision to jump ship, then perhaps a little history lesson will jog the mind.
      When Hamilton quit McLaren in 2012 to join Mercedes in 2013, plenty questioned the logic – and rightly so for McLaren were regular winners and Mercedes were not.
      But, Hamilton was sold on the vision for 2014 and beyond, a new era of regulations that saw the introduction of new hybrid engines and a shift that would turn the grid on its head.
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      Hamilton was lured by the message delivered by the late Niki Lauda who sold the Brit on his vision – and so he joined a year ahead of those major rule changes in 2013.
      He then 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.
      Is history about to repeat itself? Let’s see, but what we do know is that he sees Ferrari as his best hope of ending his wait for that elusive eighth world crown.
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      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 Pisatri, 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-hassel 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 Schumahcer 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.

      We know that Red Bull is not an option for him as Christian Horner has made it clear they do not see him as a driver for their future.
      We now also know that Hamilton does not believe Mercedes have the abilities to turn their ship around after a succession of dud motors.
      Hamilton is winless since December 2021, his last victory coming in the penultimate race of the season in Saudi Arabia before he would lose his world crown to Max Verstappen.
      Mercedes have rewarded boss Toto Wolff and designer James Allison with new deals over the last two weeks, perhaps in a vain attempt to convince their star driver that all is well.
      But there does not seem to be enough to convince Hamilton to remain at the Silver Arrows.
      Added weight can be applied to this theory that they are indeed off the pace when you assess that Mercedes are planning to launch their challenger for 2024 – without any media present.
      A digital-only launch event at Silverstone with no questions asked – perhaps they are trying to manage expectations?
      What follows now is interesting. There is no doubt Hamilton will simply write off this season.
      He will look to finish off his time with Mercedes with a bang and take the momentum forward into Ferrari.
      That said, he will be cut out of meetings about future development, as is only natural to protect their future designs from Ferrari’s engineers.
      He will find himself alienated within his own team – and that will be a new experience for him to cope with.
      For Ferrari, they will be boosted by his arrival and now have 12 months to iron out their operational mistakes that have cost them in the past.
      At the same time, they will no doubt divert some of their attention to their cars for the 2025 and 2026 season.
      Finally, Hamilton’s arrival should also provide the necessary motivation for Charles Leclerc to discover a new level of ability.
      There is no doubt about his qualifying pace, but his performances in the race have sometimes been lacklustre.
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      Leclerc will not want to be out-shone by Hamilton once he is alongside him driving for the same team.
      It promises to be an exciting time for Hamilton, Ferrari and indeed F1 as a whole, plus the delicious irony that the Brit could beat Michael Schumacher’s joint-record of seven world titles while driving for the Italian team. More

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      Did Charles Leclerc drop secret hint about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari from Mercedes in awkward interview LAST YEAR?

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      CHARLES LECLERC is set to be joined by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025.News emerged this morning that the seven-time world champion is will replace Carlos Sainz with the Prancing Horse in 2025.
      Lewis Hamilton is set to join Charles Leclerc at FerrariCredit: Reuters
      Leclerc addressed Hamilton rumours last summer
      Hamilton, who turned 39 this month, penned a two-year £100million extension with Mercedes last summer.
      But a break clause will see him able to leave for Ferrari next year.
      Last summer rumours of Hamilton’s potential switch began to swirl around the paddock.
      Sat next to Hamilton, Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas, a sheepish-looking Leclerc was asked about what he looks for in a team-mate last June.
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      He awkwardly laughed as he said “Hi Lewis”, with the Brit also cackling.
      Leclerc then said: “We are in Formula 1 and we love to be fighting against the best. But that is not to say my team-mate is not fast. Carlos is an extremely fast driver.
      “But considering that I am not the person that makes the choices, let’s see.”
      Asked if he’d “welcome Lewis”, Leclerc added: “If I say yes I imagine it being the title of every newspaper.
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      “But Lewis is such an incredible driver, he’s achieved so much in the sport so I think anybody in the grid would love to have Lewis as a team-mate.”
      Hamilton has not won a race since 2021, when he controversially lost out on a record eighth world championship to Max Verstappen.
      He finished third in last year’s driver standings, only behind Verstappen and Sergio Perez and two places above Leclerc.
      The Mercedes stalwart joined the Silver Arrows from McLaren in 2013.
      He has since added six world titles to his tally, as well as 82 race wins.
      Sainz, who is set to be shunted out of Ferrari by Hamilton’s arrival, has been linked with a move to the new Audi team, who will take over at Sauber.
      The Spaniard, 29, was the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in 2023.

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      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including super rare Ferrari and £1.6m ride made entirely for him

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      F1 legend Lewis Hamilton boasts a stunning car collection befitting of the racing driver legend he is.Since his 2007 debut, the seven-time world champion has earned a staggering fortune from motorsport.
      Lewis Hamilton owns a £2m McLaren that he still drives around Monaco inCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton, who has a deal with Mercedes, looks set to leave their F1 team
      Lewis Hamilton boasts a car collection worth a staggering £13mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      F1 legend Hamilton shows off his Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe worth around £177k
      He has been paid an astonishing £350million by Mercedes, who he signed for in 2013.
      But, it could be the end of an era. The 39-year-old is reportedly poised to complete a sensational switch to Ferrari and team up with Charles Leclerc ahead of the 2025 season.
      Hamilton’s epic wealth has allowed to enjoy a lifestyle to envy.
      And cars are most certainly his passion – with a garage of supercars worth around £13MILLION.
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      Hamilton is a self-confessed car fanatic, who collects everything from the latest supercars to vintage classics and even electric vehicles.
      He said previously: “I don’t know anything about wine. I don’t know a huge amount about art.
      “But what I do know is cars, and I’m very particular about them.”
      Here we take a look at just some of his extravagant collection:
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      PAGANI ZONDA 760 LH
      The rarest motor in Hamilton owned was his £1.6m Pagani Zonda that was made entirely for him.
      The exterior and interiors are purple, and at the request of the sports star he opted for a manual gearbox instead of the usual sequential one.
      His reasons? Because he hated getting behind the wheel of it initially.
      He once said: “The Zonda is terrible to drive!
      “It’s the best-sounding car I own, but handling-wise it’s the worst.”
      That could be why in 2015 Hamilton got in an accident that caused some significant damage to the cherished motor.
      Hamilton reportedly sold the motor in 2022.
      Hamilton’s Pagani Zonda cost him £1.6m but he hated driving itCredit: Rex FeaturesCheck out these amazing collections

      1966 SHELBY 427 COBRA
      The highest valued car in Hamilton’s collection is this stunning classic.
      Believed to be worth around £4m, it’s a rare sight – unless you’ve seen the racer cruising along the Pacific Coast Highway in LA.
      Hamilton was often spied taking his ex-missus Nicole Scherzinger for a spin in this beauty, which had him standing out from the crowd.
      A 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra is Hamilton’s most expensive car worth £4mCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      LAFERRARI
      Every car aficionado worth their weight in salt owns this £2m Ferrari – another collector’s item that rises in value as the years go by.
      Capable of reaching a top speed of 217 mph, the LaFerrari can hit 0-62 mph in just 2.4 seconds, meaning it’s the fastest car Hamilton owns.
      Footballers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Son Heung-min also drive this frighteningly fast motor that must feel like handling a racing car.
      A £1m Ferrari La Ferrari is a must for any car collection, including HamiltonCredit: Xposure
      MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
      Lewis got his hands on a Project One in 2021, even though it wasn’t released until 2022.
      He was heavily involved in the production of the plug-in hybrid sports car that’s capable of hitting a top speed of 217 mph.
      Only 275 were made, and they cost around £2m.
      Getting his hands on one was one of the many perks of his deal with Mercedes.
      Hamilton managed to get his hands on a £2m Mercedes-AMG Project One ahead of its 2021 release
      Hamilton was heavily involved in the production of the Project OneCredit: AFP or licensors
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      MERCEDES-AMG SLS BLACK
      He already owned a SL Black Series, so why not add the SLS, right?
      Hamilton, who clearly has a need for speed, added this supercar to his garage probably because it’s the fastest Mercedes in production.
      Powered by a 6.2-litre V8 engine that produces 622bhp – the SLS can reach a top speed of 196 mph.
      It also hits 0-60 in just 3 seconds – making it the ideal car for Hamilton to get his thrills off the track with. For a price tag of £230k, it’s just what you’d expect really.
      Driving for Mercedes has its perks for HamiltonCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton regularly shares images on social media alongside Mercedes motorsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      MCLAREN P1
      Despite splitting with McLaren’s racing team, Hamilton can’t have felt too aggrieved with his former employers. In 2015, he added a £2m P1 to his extensive list of rides.
      The P1 has a 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine, which is twinned with an electric motor that means the supercar has a total power and torque output of 903 bhp and 980 Nm of torque.
      In real talk that means it’s fast and powerful, can hit a top speed of 217 mph and hits 0-60 mph in just under 2.7 seconds.
      In 2015 Hamilton added a £2M McLaren P1 to his list of ridesCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      The McLaren P1 is capable of hitting 0-62 mph in just 2.7 secondsCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      1967 FORD MUSTANG SHELBY GT500
      The second classic car that’s part of his fleet, fans of the Hollywood movie Gone In 60 Seconds might recognise this motor as looking to similar to one of the Eleanor models from the film.
      Hamilton had his customised by Oklahoma-based car shoop Classic Recreations for additional cost.
      At auctions, they can fetch up to £750k, and you can bet Hamilton’s is in tip-top condition. That said, we doubt he’ll ever sell it.
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      When the Mercedes-Maybach 6 came out in 2016, Hamilton made sure he got his hands on the concept car.
      The 2×2 coupe is completely electric, and can run up to 200 miles before it’ll need recharging.
      Hamilton also has another Mercedes – the Maybach S600, which is a luxurious chauffeur’s car with a partition separating the front seats from the back.
      Both those motors have a combined worth of around £800k.
      And Hamilton doesn’t mind swapping four wheels for two – sometimes taking his £6,500 Honda CRF450RX Motocross Bike around the dirt tracks of California.
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      Then there’s also his Maverick X3 dune buggy that would’ve set him back around £20k, that’s also electric in theme with his eco-warrior status.
      However, with a switch to Ferrari imminent – imagine the company cars he’s got lined up?
      Hamilton is a fan of the Maverick x3 dune buggy worth £20kCredit: 2017. All rights reserved.
      Nicole Scherzinger used to ride with Hamilton on his buggyCredit: Instagram @LewisHamilton
      Hamilton also has a penchant for motorbikesCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari with Mercedes confirming to staff he’s leaving in 2025 as secret contract clause emerges

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      LEWIS HAMILTON is on the verge of completing a sensational switch to Ferrari in a desperate last bid to win a record eighth world championship.The 39-year-old is poised to join the Italian team for the 2025 season – despite agreeing a two-year deal with Mercedes last season.
      Lewis Hamilton is reportedly nearing a sensational Mercedes departureCredit: Alamy
      Hamilton, 39, won the most recent of his seven world titles in 2020Credit: Getty
      The Brit joined Toto Wolff’s team from McLaren in 2013Credit: Splash
      F1 insiders believe the deal could be completed within the next 24 hours in a bombshell move that would see the Brit partner Charles Leclerc.
      Mercedes are yet to officially confirm Hamilton’s departure, but SunSport understands that staff were told of his exit in a ten-minute meeting today.
      Hamilton has been linked with a switch to F1’s most famous team for a number of seasons but has always pledged his loyalty to Mercedes and their boss Toto Wolff.
      Wolff and the team’s designer, James Allison, have both recently agreed extensions to their contracts with Mercedes in what is now being viewed as a final throw of the dice to convince him to stay on.
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      However, SunSport understands that Hamilton will activate a break clause in his contract which will allow him to leave Mercedes at the end of this season.
      Hamilton has been without a win since December 2021 – the same season he lost the title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
      Since then, Mercedes have delivered two dud cars that have been plagued by problems, meaning he has been unable to fight for wins – and titles.
      Ferrari chairman John Elkann has been a long-term admirer of Hamilton’s talent and the two have held talks in the past.
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      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.

      It was reported at the time that Ferrari would offer him around £40million a year and it’s likely he would earn in that region.
      Hamilton’s move would make sense as he would offer Ferrari their chance to fight for championships.
      He has also worked with Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur in the past when he drove for his ART Grand Prix squad in GP2.

      The move would mean that Carlos Sainz would be out of a seat – although he has been heavily linked with a switch to the new Audi team, who will takeover at Sauber.
      Meanwhile, Mercedes would need to find a replacement for Hamilton.

      The deal will see Hamilton remain with the Silver Arrows until the end of 2024, which could make for an awkward season ahead.
      Upon signing his new deal last summer, Hamilton said: “We have never been hungrier to win. We have learnt from every success but also every setback.
      “We continue to chase our dreams; we continue to fight no matter the challenge and we will win again. I’m grateful to the team who have supported me both on and off the track.
      “Our story isn’t finished, we are determined to achieve more together and we won’t stop until we do.”
      Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell is also under contract until the end of 2025.
      While Mick Schumacher served as the Silver Arrows’ reserve driver last season.
      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 Pisatri, 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-hassel 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 Schumahcer 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.

      Earlier this week, Hamilton admitted to having a “love-hate” relationship with Formula 1 and even hinted that he could retire in the next 12 months.
      Addressing his previous assertion several years ago that he would not still be in the sport at 40, he told Formule1.nl : “That is still possible.
      “I have no set plan for the future – I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.
      “I’ve now learned that you should never say never in life.
      “I never thought that, after such a long time in Formula One, I would still feel the same love for the sport.
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      “It is a love-hate relationship – at times you love it more than at others.
      “I think there comes a point when you’ve had enough. But the love is still there.”

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      Charles Leclerc signs £28m Ferrari contract extension as F1 star looks to end Max Verstappen’s dominance

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      CHARLES LECLERC has signed a contract extension with Ferrari worth around £28million a season.The 26-year-old’s current deal was due to expire at the end of this year but Ferrari have signed him up to a new one, believed to run until the end of 2026.
      Charles Leclerc has signed a new deal with FerrariCredit: Getty
      Leclerc came through the Scuderia’s driver academyCredit: X/ScuderiaFerrari
      Leclerc’s deal is believed to run until 2026Credit: X/ScuderiaFerrari
      Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2016 and came through the Italian team’s academy before making his debut for F1’s most famous brand in 2019.
      The Monaco-born racer has taken 30 podiums for Ferrari in 103 races, winning five times.
      He said: “I’m very pleased to know that I will be wearing the Scuderia Ferrari race suit for several more seasons to come.
      “To race for this team has been my dream since I was three years old: I used to watch the Monaco Grand Prix from the window of a friend’s apartment and I would always look out for the red cars.
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      “This team is my second family ever since I joined the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2016 and we have achieved a lot together, fighting through thick and thin over the past five years.
      “However, I believe the best is yet to come and I can’t wait for this season to start, to make further progress and be competitive at every race.
      “My dream remains that of winning the world championship with Ferrari and I’m sure that in the years ahead, we will enjoy great times together and make our fans happy.”
      Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers’ championship last season but ended the campaign without a win as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen dominated with 19 victories in 22.
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      Ferrari have acted quickly ahead of the new season to kill off any potential interest in Leclerc from Mercedes or Red Bull, who are assessing the futures of Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez respectively.
      Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur added: “Charles’ bond to the Scuderia goes beyond that of just a driver and a team.
      “His values and those of our team are intertwined and so it was natural for us to be in agreement on extending our collaboration.
      “We know him for his incessant desire to push himself to the limit and we appreciate his extraordinary abilities when it comes to fighting and overtaking in a race.
      “We are determined to give Charles a winning car and I know that his determination and commitment are elements that can make the difference in helping us reach our goals.”
      Ferrari, who will launch their 2024 F1 car on February 13th, will now turn their attention to signing Leclerc’s team-mate, Carlos Sainz, to a new deal until 2026.

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      Leclerc has taken 30 podiums in 103 races at FerrariCredit: X/ScuderiaFerrari
      He has won five races with the iconic constructorCredit: X/ScuderiaFerrari
      Leclerc said he believed the ‘best is yet to come’Credit: X/ScuderiaFerrari More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo shows off incredible new £400,000 Ferrari Purosangue as he adds to £17million collection

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has added to his fleet of supercars with a new motor worth nearly half a million pounds.The Manchester United legend – who is just shy of a year with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr – has built up a collection of luxury cars worth a staggering £17million over the years.
      Cristiano Ronaldo boasts an insane fleet of supercarsCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      The footie icon’s fleet of motors is worth over £17millionCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      Ronaldo’s collection of luxury vehicles includes two Rolls RoycesCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      The Al-Nassr star recently added a £400,000 Ferrari Purosangue to his fleetCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      And he’s added to his haul of pricey vehicles with a brand-spanking new Ferarri.
      Ronaldo, 38, shared a snap of his new dark blue Ferrari Purosangue with his 617million Instagram followers on Thursday.
      The Portugal skipper proudly smiled next to the plush motor as he wore a Gucci tracksuit worth £1,750.
      Scores of his followers commented on the post, with one saying: “Dream car right there.”
      READ MORE ON RONALDO
      Another said: ” I’m buying one like it.”
      And another said with a fire emoji: “That combination.”
      One remarked: “The king matching his outfit with his vehicles… a boss.”
      Another chimed in: “New Ferrari. Great, brother, enjoy it.”
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      Cristiano Ronaldo car collection also includes several MercedesCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      He even has high-end Range RoversCredit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO
      One of his followers added with okay and love-heart emojis: “Ferrari and Ronaldo.”
      The price of Ronaldo’s new Ferrari may blow peoples’ minds, but it’s by no means his most expensive car.
      That honour goes to his limited edition Bugatti Centodieci – which is worth a jaw-dropping £8.5million.
      He also owns a Buggati Chiron and Buggati Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which cost £2.5m and £1.8m respectively.
      Ronaldo has a swanky Ferrari Monza worth a cool £1.4m in his collection.
      His black McLaren Senna – which was one of his staples during his first stint at Old Trafford – also costs a cool million.
      In addition to his multiple million-pound plus motors, Ronaldo also has several Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces.
      In his bombshell interview with Sun columnist Piers Morgan in November 2022, Ronaldo revealed he didn’t know how many cars he has in his collection.
      When asked how many motors are in his possession, he said: “20, maybe 17. I don’t know. [I have] two [Buggatis].
      “Ferraris? Two. [McLarens], two. [Rolls Royces], two. Two, two, two, two, two, two.”
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      Revealing his favourite ride, he said: “Rolls Royce. It’s more comfortable and I like it and it doesn’t hurt my back.
      “So it’s perfect.”
      Cristiano Ronaldo’s favourite car is his Rolls Royce 4x4Credit: INSTAGRAM@CRISTIANO More