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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.
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      “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.”
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      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

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      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.
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      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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      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 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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      Meet the ‘immense’ potential Lewis Hamilton F1 replacement who excites Toto Wolff with ‘a lot of hype around him’

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S replacement at Mercedes could be 17-year-old Italian sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli.The teenage wonderkid has been a part of the Silver Arrows’ junior programme since 2019 and is moving quickly through the ranks.
      Lewis Hamilton looks set to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025Credit: Alamy
      Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be Hamilton’s replacementCredit: Getty
      The Italian teenager is quickly moving through the ranks at MercedesCredit: Instagram @kimi.antonelli
      He was recently pictured with some sausages at the 100 Km dei CampioniCredit: Instagram @kimi.antonelli
      And now eyes are on him more than ever following the revelation that seven-time world champion Hamilton is set to join Ferrari in 2025.
      After impressing in F4 last year, Antonelli has been promoted straight to F2 for the 2024 season.
      He also has a personal relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as his family are close to the Austrian businessman.
      An impressive debut year in F2 could convince Mercedes to take a chance on him in 2025 when Hamilton looks set to depart.
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      But he does face competition from other drivers in the frame including Oscar Piastri, Daniel Ricciardo, Mick Schumacher and Alex Albon.
      And while Wolff has spoken glowingly about Antonelli’s talents, he has also urged caution when it comes to the speed of his development.
      He said: “We got Kimi under the wings in 2012 and he was a great kid already then.
      “You could see the character [and] he was strong. We had him in the garage and there was a lot of confidence.
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      Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is a big fan of AntonelliCredit: Getty
      Antonelli has received a lot of praise from the Mercedes chiefCredit: 2023 Formula Motorsport Limited
      “In go-karting his track record was immense and then you put him in the junior formulas and he wins every single season in his rookie year.
      “But we’ve got to be careful because there’s a lot of hype around him.
      “Putting him into F2 is a big step because those cars are heavier and much more powerful.
      “If we give him his time and don’t expect him to be killing it in his first season, I think he can be a really great one in this sport.
      “He’s 17 – this is so young.”
      CHILD PRODIGY
      Antonelli started karting at just seven years of age and quickly began winning.
      This culminated in him claiming back-to-back CIK-FIA Karting European Championship titles in 2020 and 2021.
      Rising through the ranks at a rapid rate, he made his Italian F4 Championship debut for Prema in Italy at just 15 years old.
      And he claimed the best rookie award in his first race, scoring four points over the course of the weekend.
      But he began attracting much more attention when he won for the first time at Monza.
      He ended up securing 10th place in the championship despite not having featured for much of the season.
      F4 championship success and skipping F3
      In 2022 he claimed his first drivers’ championship, clinching the Italian F4 Championship title in Mugello.
      Since then, he has gone on to claim a host more titles.
      These include the ADAC Formula 4 Championship, Formula Regional Middle East Championship and Formula Regional European Championship.
      Such is the success Antonelli has enjoyed in F4, it has since been confirmed he will bypass F3 and move straight into F2.
      He will continue with Prema Racing as Mercedes monitor his progress closely.
      Racing in his blood
      Antonelli is following in the footsteps of his father Marco – who was also a racing driver.
      In 2002, he competed in two races in the European Touring Car Championships, placing seventh in the first and retiring in the other.
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      Marco is also the owner of the F4 team AKM Motorsport team.
      This means his outfit were competing against Andrea during the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
      Andrea’s dad, Marco Antonelli, competed in two European Touring Car Championship racesCredit: CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa More

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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.
      BEST OF THE REST
      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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