Lewis Hamilton is leaving Mercedes for Ferrari. (Image: Getty.)
claimed that joining would “fulfil another childhood dream” but the Brit will also bag a reportedly mega salary to wear red next year.
The 39-year-old finally called time on his illustrious career this season, ending his 12 years and 246 appearances at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where .
His surge at Yas Marina Circuit epitomised everything that Hamilton represented in Formula One, and showcased exactly why he is paid accordingly.
However, the seven-time world champion was not the highest-paid driver in 2024, that title belonged to .
The man usurped Hamilton for the third straight year with estimated earnings from of £59million, combining salary and performance bonuses.
The gap widened as Verstappen picked up his fourth world title, with Hamilton earning an estimated £45m by comparison, though his pay packet is set to dramatically change when he heads to Maranello.
F1 driver fees are rarely made publicly available, but contracts are typically understood to reward on-track performance and a significant portion comes from where each driver finishes.
Lewis Hamilton will race alongside Charles Leclerc next season. (Image: Getty)
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In 2024, alongside in red, Hamilton is expected to set a new F1 salary record as he moves back ahead of Verstappen.
The length of Hamilton’s contract remains unknown, with only announcing that the decorated driver had signed a “multi-year contract” back in February.
And it appears that throughout his stay in Italy, Hamilton will be financially rewarded, returning to the number one spot above Verstappen, who had previously dwarfed his salary.
“I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together,” said Hamilton upon announcing his move.
” has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge.
“I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my family, especially for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together. I am 100 per cent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
Beyond the financial aspect, Hamilton will finally get to race for one of the most iconic teams in Formula One, the only team to feature in every season since 1950.
His childhood idol, Ayrton Senna, never got the chance to drive for but Hamilton will – and be vastly rewarded for doing so in 2025.