why did lewis hamilton leave mercedes

Lewis Hamilton left Mercedes primarily because he wanted a new challenge and a longer-term contract that Mercedes was not willing to offer. Despite his historic success with Mercedes, including seven world championships, Hamilton sought to start another chapter in his career with Ferrari, a team he had long aspired to join. Additionally, Mercedes was offering a shorter contract and was not prioritizing him for the long term, while Ferrari offered a more lucrative and extended deal. His decision was not mainly driven by car performance, as Mercedes had some resurgence in 2024, but more by his desire for a fresh challenge and career longevity. Hamilton has openly said it was a hard and courageous decision to leave after more than a decade with Mercedes, but he felt the timing was right to write a new story with Ferrari. He also aimed to revive his competitiveness after some difficult seasons with Mercedes.