Official: Hamilton and Mercedes to part ways at end of 2024

The news is sure to have awoken F1 from its off-season slumber, as one of the most coveted seats in F1, with Mercedes, is now up for grabs, while George Russell will finally get his 'own' team now that Hamilton is moving on.

One can imagine the likes of Fernando Alonso getting onto the phone to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, while a queue is likely to form of drivers wanting the car that Hamilton leaves behind and will no longer carry the iconic #44.

Instead, that number os going to Ferrari, alongside Charles Leclerc who recently inked an extension with the team that mentored him for most of his career. This means Carlos Sainz will be looking for work elsewhere, and a good catch he would be for any team. Mercedes included, and of course, Audi which comes on stream.

For now, the reality is that Hamilton departs the team he joined in 2013. He has since won sis F1 world titles with them. He has only raced Mercedes-powered cars, including his stint at McLaren from 2007 until the end of 2012. He won his first F1 title with them, with Merc-tristar on his chest.

It's a whole new world for Hamilton, who has followed in the footsteps of the sport's greatest drivers. Perhaps he was inspired by his childhood hero, who before perishing at Imola in 1994 was in talks to drive for Ferrari.

The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team and Lewis Hamilton will part ways at the end of the 2024 season. Lewis has activated a release option in the contract announced last August and this season will therefore be his last driving for the Silver Arrows.

The news brings an end to what is currently a 17-year-long relationship in F1 with Mercedes-Benz and an 11-year-long partnership with the works team.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO, commented: "In terms of a team-driver pairing, our relationship with Lewis has become the most successful the sport has seen, and that's something we can look back on with pride; Lewis will always be an important part of Mercedes motorsport history. However, we knew our partnership would come to a natural end at some point, and that day has now come.

"We accept Lewis's decision to seek a fresh challenge, and our opportunities for the future are exciting to contemplate. But for now, we still have one season to go, and we are focused on going racing to deliver a strong 2024."

Lewis Hamilton added: "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.

"But the time is right for me to take this step and I'm excited to be taking on a new challenge. I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership/

"I want to finish on a high together. I am 100% committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember," concluded Hamilton's quote in the statment.