​Lewis Hamilton will debut his final season with Mercedes on March 2, and the surprise split will come after 12 seasons together. The Briton decided to switch to the single-seater car of his Ferrari rivals, and the 39-year-old pilot explained what prompted him to take this important step.

Lewis HamiltonPhoto: Tim Goode / PA Images / Profimedia

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After six seasons at McLaren and the world championship title (in 2008), Lewis was starting a new chapter in his career with Mercedes.

There were 11 successful seasons, the British won six Grand Circus World Championship titles (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020).

The last three championship crowns have been won by Max Verstappen, and RedBull’s dominance has been incredible.

Just a few weeks ago, Lewis surprised many by announcing his break with Mercedes.

Ferrari also wanted him in the past, but Mercedes (still) offered the Brit a single-seater in which he could fight for the world title.

During testing in Bahrain (this week), Hamilton also talked about the latest chapter of his career: the move to Ferrari.

“It was an opportunity I wanted to take, and then all the pilots wonder what it’s like to wear the red uniform. I have a great relationship with Wasser (without Frederic Wasser, head of Ferrari).

Ferrari haven’t had an important result since 2007 and that motivates me even more. As a kid, I always picked Michael Schumacher in video games.

Maranello? I have never been there. As a Mercedes driver, it seemed inappropriate to me. I will try to learn Italian, as a child, when I went on karts in Italy, I learned a few phrases” – Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton in a fantastic adventure with Mercedes

The Briton also talked about the 11 seasons he spent with Mercedes. Hamilton says it’s been a fantastic ride and he will do his best to get the best results in 2024, his final year in the Mercedes single-seater.

“I am still 100% focused on giving this team the best results. Parting with Mercedes was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.

I have been associated with this name for 26 years. They always supported me and together we experienced a fantastic adventure that marked the history of the sport. I am very proud of what I have achieved. But in the end, I felt it was time to start a new chapter,” he concluded Hamilton.

Find out about the latest important results of Scuderia Ferrari in Formula 1

  • The last F1 title won by a Scuderia Ferrari driver was in the 2007 season and was won by Kimi Raikkonen. Then the Finn dramatically won the last Grand Prix (110 points in total) ahead of the then McLaren pilots: Lewis Hamilton (second – 109 points) and Fernando Alonso (third – 109 points).
  • The last time Ferrari triumphed in the constructors’ championship was in 2008, when the Italians (172 points in total) overtook rivals McLaren (151 points).
  • In total, Ferrari has 16 world championship titles in Formula 1 among constructors and 15 among pilots.

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1) Deputy of Bahrain / March 2 / Sahir

2) Deputy from Saudi Arabia / March 9 / Jeddah

3) Member of Parliament of Australia / March 24 / Albert Park circuit

4) Deputy from Japan / April 7 / Suzuka

5) Deputy from China / April 21 / Shanghai

6) Miami MP / May 5 / Miami International Autodrome

7) Deputy from Emilia-Romagna / May 19 / Imola

8) Deputy from Monaco / May 26 / Monaco

9) Canadian MP / June 9 / Gilles Villeneuve, Monteal

10) Deputy from Spain / June 23 / Barcelona, ​​Montmelo

11) Deputy from Austria / June 30 / Spielberg

12) British MP / July 7 / Silverstone

13) Deputy from Hungary / July 21 / Hungaroring

14) Deputy from Belgium / July 28 / Spa-Francorchamps

15) Deputy from the Netherlands / August 25 / Zandvoort

16) Deputy from Italy / September 1 / Monza

17) Deputy from Azerbaijan / September 15 / Baku

18) MP of Singapore / September 22 / Marina Bay

19) Member of the US Parliament / October 20 / Texas, Austin

20) MP from Mexico / October 27 / Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

21) São Paulo MP / November 3 / Interlagos

22) Las Vegas MP / November 23 / Las Vegas Strip Circuit

23) Deputy of Qatar / December 1 / Lusail

24) Deputy of Abu Dhabi / December 8 / Yas Marina.

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