All good things must come to an end, as the old saying goes.
And that seems to be true when it comes to Lewis Hamilton, with the 39-year-old set to ditch Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025 in a twist that has rocked the F1 world.
The Briton is one of the best drivers of his generation, having won a remarkable seven Formula One titles during his years in the sport.
In recent years, however, he has struggled to keep pace with Max Verstappen - with his reputation suffering a blow in the process. Some, whisper it quietly, have written him off.
Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari will send shockwaves through the F1 world
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Ever since being denied a record eighth crown in controversial circumstances back in 2021, Hamilton has looked a faded force.
He could only finish third in the standings last term and it's now been two years and counting since his last race win.
For a driver up there with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, that's been nowhere near good enough.
Mercedes have made tweaks to their vehicle for the 2024 season, with Toto Wolff optimistic it can satisfy Hamilton's needs.
Speaking just last month, the Austrian said he was enthused about the W15 and how it would boost his side's chances of glory.
Having spoken to simulator driver Anthony Davidson, he said: He was driving Melbourne [in the sim]. And he said: ‘The car feels like a car for the first time in two years.’
“Obviously I would love this to correlate to the track but we’ve seen in the last two years that this was not always the case.”
But Hamilton has seemingly had enough.
At the age of 39, he is not somebody who can be patient. The Briton needs to win here and now, instead of in the future.
And that's why his move to Ferrari makes sense, even if it will upset many who had hoped the Stevenage-born racer would see out his days in the sport with Mercedes.
Hamilton dreams of surpassing Schumacher's total of seven titles, an amount he's been stuck on for the past four years now.
Doing that in a Ferrari vehicle, just like the German did, would be a romantic end to his glittering career.
And Ferrari, simply put, seem more capable of granting him his wish than Mercedes at the current moment in time.
They have, at the very least, been more consistent in creating cars that give their drivers the best possible chance of winning.
That's evident given how Ferrari were the only team to beat Red Bull in a single race last season, with Carlos Sainz Jr triumphing in Singapore.
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Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari as he looks to close the gap on Max Verstappen
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And with Ferrari struggling to agree a deal with the 29-year-old, crossing the divide seems on.
Hamilton has previously said he knows good people at Ferrari, which may be another reason why he feels obliged to make the move.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann has long been an admirer of the 39-year-old but, over the years, Hamilton has been out of reach.
That no longer seems to be the case.
Comments made by the Stevenage-born racer back in November also look fascinating now, three months on.
Lewis Hamilton is expected to replace Carlos Sainz Jr when he joins Ferrari in 2025
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After the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Hamilton was blown away by the car driven in by Sainz and Leclerc.
"It’s impressive watching the Ferrari today. It’s a quick car!” he said.
Fans will no doubt be left reeling by the bombshell news.
But it's a move that suits all parties. Ferrari need a winner in their car to maximise it's potential.
And Hamilton needs a team that can finally secure the eighth crown he craves and see him surpass Schumacher in the process.
