As Lewis Hamilton prepares to make a surprise move to Ferrari, we reflect back on his time at Mercedes.
The end of an era is here. Lewis Hamilton, a decorated F1 racer, is set to make a legendary transition to Ferrari, ending an 11-year affiliation with Mercedes, which he joined in 2013. Hamilton became an all-time great with them, winning a world record seven World Championship titles (tied with Michael Schumacher) and leading Mercedes to eight Constructors Championships. As Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is expected to be officially revealed, we look back at five of his most notable successes with the previous team.
During his time with Mercedes, Hamilton has won 82 races, beginning with the 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix.
F1 icon. Hamilton holds 77 pole positions with the team. In his rookie season with Mercedes in 2013, he won five pole positions, the first of which came at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton has achieved 142 podium finishes in his career. His first podium finish with the team came in the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, where he placed third.
During his time with Mercedes, the British driver has set 49 fastest lap times. In his first season with the team, he won only one race, the Italian Grand Prix, placing ninth.
Despite the fact that the deal is expected to be concluded in the coming hours, Mercedes and Ferrari have chosen not to comment on the speculation around Hamilton’s potential move to Ferrari. This potential transfer would raise concerns among Formula One spectators, given that the 39-year-old British driver signed a fresh two-year contract last summer that extends until 2025. However, it is unclear whether the contract contains an escape clause.
Despite their dominance from 2013 to 2020, Hamilton and Mercedes have been frustrated in the previous two seasons. Mercedes won only once in 2022, thanks to George Russell, who exploited a design defect that caused a bouncing effect known as porpoising. Hamilton finished third overall in the previous season, 341 points behind Max Verstappen, with only six podium finishes.
When Hamilton signed the new contract, he reaffirmed his intention to resolve ‘unfinished business’ with the team and maintained faith in Mercedes’ potential to return to the forefront. If he joins Ferrari, he is likely to replace Carlos Sainz, particularly given that Sainz’s colleague, Charles Leclerc, recently signed a multi-year contract extension.
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