Lewis Hamilton could make his surprise move to Ferrari even sooner than expected, according to a new report in the Italian media.
Major newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport report that the switch, which is broadly expected to happen for the 2025 season, could happen even sooner.
The move will shake up the Formula 1 landscape whether it comes today or in a year from now, but the report from Gazzetta, which claims 'the seven-time world champion would arrive in Maranello in 2025, but it is not excluded that the coup could be brought forward even by a season', could even have title implications.
While it's expected that Red Bull will be the dominant team once again in 2024, Hamilton would be joining the only team who managed to take a race victory off Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez last season.
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari! Always thought it would happen one day, finally it will and it seems as early as 2025. Seismic move just as it was when Lewis joined Mercedes and like then I don’t see the negatives. But wow, undoubtedly the biggest transfer on transfer deadline day!
I’m so looking forward to this. We’ve asked him for years about it and he seemed nailed on at Merc for life, and always dismissive of moving. Hamilton and Leclerc in scarlet, that’s a story. https://t.co/E9d4sMXwHM
Confirmation of the switch is expected to come as early as Thursday afternoon, meaning that fans won't have to wait too long to find out when Hamilton will be racing in Ferrari red.
If, as broadly reported, the move doesn't go through until 2025 then this will be Carlos Sainz's last season with the Scuderia.
The Spaniard's contract is up at the end of the 2024 season, which had already led to speculation over his future. Some reports over the last year have linked Sainz with a seat driving for the 2026 Audi entry, although it's unclear who he'll now race for in 2025.
The news has shaken the F1 paddock, with teams and drivers alike scrambling for updates to see where one of the great drivers in the sport's history will be racing.