Revisited: Hamilton throws F1 into chaos with historic Ferrari decision

February 1, 2024 - it began as a day like any other. By all accounts, everything was 'normal' as F1 began to thaw itself out from the winter hibernation.

There were no immediate indications that the F1 world would soon be plunged into chaos with the emergence of one of the biggest stories in the sport’s history.

Driver transfers are more often than not preceded by various rumours that circulate weeks, even months, before a confirmation is delivered, turning them into a story that is commonly labelled 'the worst kept secret in F1'.

Lewis Hamilton penned a contract extension with Mercedes in August 2023. At that time, there was not the slightest hint he would be confirming his exit just five months later - but that's exactly what occurred.

Here’s the story of how an unassuming Thursday in February became forever etched into the F1 archives.

Morning - the first whispers

Some 12 hours before hints of Hamilton to Ferrari began to filter through, the F1 community was busy reacting to another major story.

On Wednesday evening, F1 confirmed the rejection of Michael Andretti’s 11th team entry bid despite approval from the FIA - however, the sport left the door open for 2028 when General Motors voiced its intention to join as a power unit supplier.

With this huge news still fresh, it was not long before an even bigger story emerged that grabbed the attention of the wider sporting world.

Quiet whispers had emerged in the days prior which linked Hamilton to Ferrari, but it was an ages-old tale, and the possibility was dismissed with the standpoint that the loyal Hamilton would retire at Mercedes, given the unprecedented success the two had enjoyed together.

But in the early hours of Thursday morning, various Italian media reports emerged that Hamilton had indeed opted to call time on his Mercedes career and start a new chapter at Ferrari.

Mercedes declined to comment on the situation when approached by RacingNews365 after the emergence of the reports, sparking an indication that something truly was afoot.

As the day approached lunchtime, the story that just hours beforehand had been deemed a typical winter rumour had escalated to the point it was being covered by every major outlet.

Indeed, there was meaning in the madness.

Afternoon - Rumour becomes reality

By midday, it was the news on everyone’s lips. It was clear that this time, the Hamilton-to-Ferrari chatter wasn’t baseless paddock gossip, and expectation grew that it was authentic.

It seemed only a matter of time before the news was made official given how prominent the situation was circulating in the media.

Fans and pundits alike began to speculate the reasoning behind the shock move, with various fingers pointing to the two difficult seasons Hamilton had endured in 2022 and 2023.

As more information filtered through, sources indicated to RacingNews365 that Loic Serra’s exit from Mercedes to Ferrari was a key reason for Hamilton’s choice to change scenery.

Perhaps the pivotal moment of the day and the point the situation became a reality for many, was when it emerged Mercedes staff were to be briefed at the Brackley factory by Hamilton and team principal Toto Wolff.

Soon after, TV images from the campus captured the staff making their way to the same location where the news was delivered to them.

At this point, it was obvious that the deal was done. On that same day, RacingNews365 asked F1 fans what they made of Hamilton’s call to move. The results can be seen below.

Evening - Official confirmation

After that, it was simply a waiting game.

As the press releases were prepared, the scale of the story became apparent. Here was the most successful driver the sport has seen about to be announced to the most historic and triumphant team.

It was a scenario few expected to happen due to Hamilton’s longevity and success at Mercedes.

At 18:58 GMT, Mercedes officially announced it would part ways with Hamilton at the end of the 2024 season.

Five minutes later, at 19:04 GMT, Ferrari issued a 20-word press release confirming Hamilton’s services.

Various experts and pundits alike provided their opinion in the days that followed. Hamilton endured a largely difficult final campaign at Mercedes while his impending move to Ferrari loomed in the background.

Almost one year on from putting pen to paper, Hamilton finally stepped behind the wheel of a Ferrari at Fiorano, commencing a new era for both team and driver.

With the initial welcomes done and dusted, the focus has firmly shifted to making the partnership a successful one across the coming seasons.