Confirmation of Lewis Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes to Ferrari sensationally crashed the Silver Arrows’ website on Thursday night as Formula One fans flocked to learn why the seven-time champion has decided to make the move. Hamilton will join the Scuderia team at the start of 2025, spending one more year at Mercedes and attempting to win a record eighth World Drivers’ Championship before he departs.
Formal confirmation of Hamilton’s departure from Mercedes was expected at 7pm (GMT). Fans were busy refreshing Mercedes’ website and their social media channels, desperate to learn why the move was happening.
Mercedes eventually released several statements from the key individuals, although the clamour to enter their website saw the page crash. Anyone attempting to enter the website was met with a message that told them: “This page is not working.”
The problem remained for at least 15 minutes after the announcement was made. Fans were finally able to view the statements just before 7.20pm.
Hamilton will spend the next year at Mercedes before joining Ferrari at the start of 2025. The 39-year-old has previously made clear his wish to one day drive for the team.
He will partner Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari seat. In the aftermath of the move, Carlos Sainz announced that he will be leaving when his Ferrari contract expires at the end of this season, making way for Hamilton. It is unclear where the Spaniard will end up, although there will likely be plenty of suitors given his consistent form in the previous campaign.
Explaining his decision to move on from Mercedes, Hamilton 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.
