Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes in $100m move from McLaren
By Tom Cary, F1 Correspondent
12:18AM BST 28 Sep 2012
Lewis Hamilton will on Friday bring to an end one of the most controversial and long-running transfer sagas in Formula One history by announcing that he is leaving McLaren, the team he has been with over half his life, for rivals Mercedes in a three-year deal worth an estimated $100 million (£61.6million).
The announcement is almost certain to end the career of the most successful driver in F1, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, whose return three years ago to the sport he once bestrode like a colossus palpably failed to live up to expectations.
It is not yet clear whether Schumacher will be offered some sort of ambassadorial or management role with the Brackley team.
The Daily Telegraph understands that Mercedes are waiting for their board in Stuttgart to sign off on the new Concorde Agreement, the commercial pact which binds the teams to the sport, before making an official announcement regarding Hamilton. That announcement should arrive today.
Right up until the end the move was kept shrouded in secrecy. McLaren are only understood to have been informed of Hamilton’s decision yesterday, and may hold a press conference of their own this morning, at which they will announce their next move.
There is no doubt, though, that Hamilton’s rejection, particularly after McLaren returned more than once in recent weeks with improved deals, reportedly matching Mercedes’ offer, will come as a bitter blow to the team who nurtured the 27 year-old from young karter to F1 world champion.
McLaren are only understood to have been informed of Hamilton’s decision yesterday, and may hold a press conference of their own this morning, at which they will announce their next move.
Que le den por culo al morenito, ya sabía yo que lo de darle mimos al nene en deprimento de Alonso, y aún habiéndole financiado toda la carrera, iba a acabar con este mandándonos a la ***** a la mínima, es lo que tienen los niños consentidos. Y eso que este año le hemos dado el mejor coche al nene, y quitando el del 09' siempre tuvo coches ganadores, incluso el del 09' era el mejor a final de temporada aunque empezó siendo un carro.
Ahí reviente con el carro de vacas de Mercedes dándose cabezazos contra la pared porque no tira y se tire sus años en Mercedes luchando por puntos, que esto de empezar en una escudería ganadora parece que se le ha subido a la cabeza y si no le dan un pepino para barrer al resto se enfada.
Ya podíamos fichar a Rosberg, aunque viendo como está el mercado, si Ferrari no se decide por Pérez, pa la bucachaca, anda que no me reiría