Lewis Hamilton is set to send shockwaves around the F1 world by moving to Ferrari next year.
The Briton has been racing with Mercedes ever since 2013, with the veteran proceeding to win six titles during his time with the Silver Arrows.
Just last year, Hamilton signed a contract with the team that ties him to Mercedes until 2025.
However, the 39-year-old is now set to join Ferrari next year with a deal close to being concluded in a move that will shake up the sport.
Lewis Hamilton is reportedly set to leave Mercedes for F1 rivals Ferrari as he hunts glory in the future
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Ferrari are close to convincing Hamilton that he stands a better chance of winning a record eighth F1 Drivers' Championship with them, instead of his current side, and a deal could be announced as early as today.
The Briton hasn't won a race in two seasons and, last term, finished a distant third behind the likes of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Hamilton has previously denied speculation linking him with a move away from Mercedes, having been with the team for a decade.
Yet it appears he's now set to jump ship and compete for another team amid the twilight years of his career.
Reports say an 'escape clause' was inserted into Hamilton's latest Mercedes deal which allows him to leave the team.
Hamilton is poised to replace Carlos Sainz, with Ferrari unable to agree a new deal with their current driver.
F1 website Formu1a.uno have also reported the news and said: "The second seat, the one occupied by Carlos Sainz until the end of 2024, has not been confirmed.
"The reason for this slow evolution, as Formu1a.uno has learned, would be the sensational attempt to bring Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025 alongside Charles Leclerc!"
Back in October, Hamilton was asked about potential talks with Ferrari.
He said the team had 'never' put a contract in front of him to sign.
But Hamilton did proceed to say they'd had a 'few casual conversations' in the past and said he knows a 'lot of good people' there.
“Okay, I’m sure we’ve had a few casual conversations," he said.
"I know a lot of good people there. But I never felt ready to move to Italy.”
Meanwhile, speaking recently, Hamilton was asked about previous comments he's made suggesting he'd walk away from F1 by the time he's 40.
At the age of 39, he's clearly still hungry to achieve success.
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Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari will send shockwaves around the F1 world
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And Hamilton confessed to having a 'love-hate relationship' with F1 by saying: “I have no set plan for the future – I still feel fit and still enjoy what I do.
“I’ve now learned that you should never say never in life.
“I never thought that, after such a long time in Formula One, I would still feel the same love for the sport.
“It is a love-hate relationship – at times you love it more than at others.
“I think there comes a point when you’ve had enough. But the love is still there.”
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are set to be F1 team-mates at Ferrari next year
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He also provided an update on having a family, insisting he's in no rush to have children due to his commitment to F1.
“I don’t have time for that. I enjoy being an uncle. I haven’t decided yet whether I want children," he continued.
“I don’t have time for it at the moment. If I want a family, I should focus less on racing and I don’t want to do that.
“There is a time and place for everything. Fortunately, I don’t have to make that decision now, maybe some day.”
