Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari sets up what promises to be one of the most tantalising storylines of the 2025 season, as the sport’s most successful driver pairs up with the sport’s most successful team, each seeking a return to their championship-winning ways. The seven-times world champion, who will be 40 when the season starts on March 16 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, stunned the paddock when he announced his decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, with the announcement made before the 2024 campaign had even begun.

But now, having brought the curtain down on the longest and most successful driver-team partnership in Formula One history with a series of emotional farewells, Hamilton is ready for the challenge of his career as he sets out to restore his and the Prancing Horse’s lost lustre. The Briton, who is replacing Williams-bound Spaniard Carlos Sainz on a two-year deal, is hunting for an unprecedented eighth career title.