Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes, Sergio Perez to McLaren

Lewis Hamilton is leaving McLaren to drive for Mercedes – ousting Michael Schumacher – and Sergio Perez joins McLaren.

It’s seemed likely for some time that Lewis Hamilton would leave McLaren for Mercedes, and this morning McLaren has confirmed that’s exactly what’s happening.

The move to Mercedes for Hamilton takes him away from the team that has nurtured his talent from childhood and given him a life he could never have dreamed of. But Hamilton’s ego seems to blame the McLaren car for his failure to emulate the achievements of Schumacher, and he feels a move to Mercedes – ironically ousting Schumacher in the process – is the way to achieve his goals.

McLaren in turn have signed rising star Sergio Perez – currently a Sauber driver and product of Ferrari’s young driver academy – to join Button in a driver line-up that promises much.

McLaren said of the Perez signing:

In just two short years, Sergio has made a stunning impression on Formula One, taking a string of hugely impressive giant-killing podium finishes while combining a deft turn of speed with considerable maturity, and showcasing the potential ability to become one of the biggest stars in global motorsport.

Sergio’s new deal means that he will begin a driving partnership with 2009 world champion Jenson Button. The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team’s new driver line-up offers the perfect blend of youth and experience – a combination from which both sides of the garage will be set to benefit.

It remains to be seen if Hamilton will get all he desires – beyond the three-year deal said to be worth up to £60 million – especially as Mercedes has been a long way off the pace of the front runners since the Mercedes team bought out Brawn.

But – although the cynics may argue that Hamilton’s child-like manner and ego required the bigger pay cheque Mercedes apparently offered – we could see Mercedes come to the fore as the engine regulations change in 2014.

But there will be a lot of F1 fans left disappointed with Hamilton.

By Cars UK