• Hamilton’s Mercedes has struggled to keep pace with Red Bull in recent years 
  • An ‘escape clause’ inserted into British racer’s contract allows a 2025 exit
  • Hamilton, 39, turned down a £40million offer to join Ferrari just a year ago 

Lewis Hamilton will make a shock switch to Ferrari next year with a decision on the seven-time world champion’s future imminent.

Negotiations over the 39-year-old British racer’s move from Mercedes could be concluded by the end of the week in what would be a romantic end to his Formula One career.

After two challenging seasons for Mercedes, who have failed to keep pace with Red Bull, it is believed Ferrari are close to convincing Hamilton he stands a better chance of success with them.

Hamilton hasn’t won a race in two seasons and finished third in the overall drivers’ championship in 2023 after achieving six podium finishes.

But it’s all a far cry from his glory days with Mercedes, which witnessed world title successes in 2014 and 2015, then in four consecutive seasons between 2017 and 2020.

Lewis Hamilton is set to sign for Ferrari next year in a bombshell move from Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton is set to sign for Ferrari next year in a bombshell move from Mercedes 

Hamilton's Mercedes has been well off the championship pace for the past two seasons

Hamilton’s Mercedes has been well off the championship pace for the past two seasons

The Ferrari bombshell comes less than a year after Hamilton denied talks with the Italian marque over a huge £40million deal.

Instead Hamilton signed a multi-year £100m deal to stay with Mercedes for 2024 and 2025, but it now appears an ‘escape clause’ was inserted into the contract.

That would allow Hamilton to move to Ferrari for the 2025 season with a view for taking on Red Bull once again at the front of the field.

Ferrari offered Hamilton the chance to win his dream eighth world championship in their famous red car last year and were willing to break the bank with a £40m deal.

The vision was for Hamilton to surpass former Ferrari favourite Michael Schumacher, who won five of his seven titles with them.

More to follow. 



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Post source: Daily mail

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