'Hamilton on verge of shock Ferrari move to partner Leclerc'

Lewis Hamilton could be on the verge of leaving Mercedes in 2025 to sign for Ferrari and partner Charles Leclerc, according to reports.

Whilst the British driver has been heavily linked with a switch to Maranello in previous years, he has always spoken of his affinity with Mercedes, and signed a new two-year contract in 2023 to keep him with the team he has raced for since 2013.

However, Ferrari chairman John Elkann is a keen admirer of Hamilton, and according to reports in Italian media, has been negotiating a deal that could see Hamilton partner Leclerc from the 2025 season, and would mean Carlos Sainz leaves the team.

Ferrari recently announced a long-term contract extension for Leclerc, but Sainz's future remains in doubt, with his deal expiring after the 2024 campaign, with the Spaniard hoping for a two-year extension. Sainz has been linked as a possible driver for Audi.

In 2023, around the time he signed his new Mercedes deal, it was reported in British media that a contract offer had been made to Hamilton by Ferrari, although this was flatly denied by Hamilton and Scuderia boss Frederic Vasseur.

Vasseur and Hamilton are long-time acquittances, with the former having run Hamilton in his ART Grand Prix squad in GP2.

Mercedes declined to comment when approached by RacingNews365.

The news of Hamilton's departure from Mercedes was formally announced on Thursday evening, bringing to an end his time with the team after 2024.