Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari from Mercedes is a gamble but it could be a masterstroke

(CNN) —& Forget soccer’s transfer deadline day on Thursday. The only switch most sports fans were talking about was the announcement that seven-time& Formula One& champion& Lewis Hamilton& would be leaving& Mercedes& at the end of the this season to join Ferrari in 2025, replacing Carlos Sainz at the Italian outfit. “No two ways about it. For me it’s the single biggest driver transfer in the history of the sport. An incredible story,” F1 broadcaster Will Buxton said on social media. Despite signing an extension with Mercedes until 2025 in August last year, the team said in a statement that Hamilton had “activated a release option in the contract” and would depart the Silver Arrows at the conclusion of the upcoming campaign. “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together … making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make,” Hamilton said in the statement. “But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge.” Ferrari announced shortly after that it had signed Hamilton to “a multi-year contract.” Prior...