After over a decade with the Formula One team Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton is set to depart following the official confirmation of his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season.

"I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together," the 39-year-old British driver said in a statement.

"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."

The anticipation is high that the seven-time champion will take over from Carlos Sainz at the renowned Italian team. Carlos Sainz's contract is set to conclude at the end of 2024, whereas the other Ferrari driver, Charles Leclerc, has recently finalized a new, extended agreement.

Last summer, Lewis Hamilton put an end to speculation by signing a two-year, £100 million contract with Mercedes, dispelling earlier rumors linking him to Ferrari. This decision concludes an extraordinary partnership that spanned from 2014 to 2020, during which Hamilton clinched six world titles.

In recent years, Mercedes' performance has declined, and Lewis Hamilton hasn't secured a victory since 2021. The team announced that Hamilton activated a release clause embedded in the contract he signed the previous year.

As the new Formula One season is just three weeks away, Lewis Hamilton's departure from Mercedes creates a surprising start to F1 in 2024. This move is likely to ignite an extended period of speculation regarding the successor to Hamilton's seat at Mercedes.

It has been more than two years since the British driver secured a victory in Formula One, as Mercedes, represented by the Silver Arrows, faced challenges in keeping up with Red Bull's strategies and drivers. In preparation for the upcoming season, Lewis Hamilton has enlisted Marc Hynes back into his support team. Additionally, Ferrari has made a significant move by appointing British driver Ollie Bearman as their reserve driver for the upcoming year.

Hamilton told ESPN last year he would be "lying" if he said he had "never thought about ending my career anywhere else".

"I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and, of course, you wonder what it would be like to be in red," he added.

Stick with https://k8airdrop.com/ for more Sports, esport, games, news, guides, and more!

Discover the thrill of cutting-edge online slot games! Visit  http://k8.io/ now for an unparalleled gaming experience with the latest and greatest slot games.