Emotional Ferrari F1 test paves way for Lewis Hamilton arrival

Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the 2024 Bahrain GP — Photo: © IMAGO

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Emotional Ferrari test paves way for Hamilton arrival

Carlos Sainz is one of the many F1 drivers bidding farewell to his team for 2025

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Saturday 21 December 2024 22:57

A Formula 1 star preparing for an imminent team exit has issued an emotional farewell ahead of his 2025 switch.

Multiple announcements from the Red Bull family this week have confirmed Liam Lawson's promotion to the main team, and Isack Hadjar's move up to F1 with VCARB, finally completing the grid for next season.

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A whole host of stars across the grid have been bidding farewell to their team ahead of a change for 2025, with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton revealing an extensive list of goodbye trips and tributes to thank Mercedes ahead of his exit from the team.

The 39-year-old rocked the sporting world earlier this year by announcing he would be leaving the Silver Arrows after 12 years, instead opting for a switch to race in red with Ferrari.

The champion's contract decision set off a whole host of negotiations and silly season rumours across the grid, with fans of the Scuderia most notably wondering where Carlos Sainz would be heading to make way for Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc will have to adapt to racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari next season

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will part ways after four F1 seasons together

Sainz delivers final Ferrari statement

After months of speculation over where he would end up ahead of his Ferrari exit, Sainz eventually settled on Williams as his new team.

The 30-year-old racer recently revealed a heartwarming parting gift that Ferrari had bestowed on him and his family, where the F1 star and his father, rally legend Carlos Sainz Sr., took to the track together in Fiorano, both behind the wheel of Ferrari F1 cars.

In a post to his personal Instagram page, the Spaniard thanked Ferrari, delivering an emotional message as his official exit looms.

"Wrapping up my time with @scuderiaferrari at Fiorano by driving with my dad with the car I won in Silverstone, was the perfect way to close these four seasons.

"Thank you team for this experience, we’ll remember it forever. ❤️"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carlos Sainz (@carlossainz55)

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

View full biography

Red Bull Ferrari Hamilton Liam Lawson Isack Hadjar VCARB