Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will part ways with Mercedes at the end of 2024, and will make a sensational switch to Ferrari next year.

Hamilton has raced for the Silver Arrows since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team, adding to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his career.

He had also re-committed to Mercedes last summer, signing a new deal to keep him aboard through 2025, but this will now be cut short to allow for his headline-making move.

Hamilton’s decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley squad, who have struggled to adapt to F1’s latest ground effect era and have dropped behind Red Bull in the pecking order.

It means Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc, who recently agreed an extension with the Scuderia “beyond 2024”, while Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the end of this year.

Amid intense speculation over Hamilton’s F1 future last year, Leclerc was asked about the prospect of teaming up with the Briton and admitted he would be open to it.

If I say yes [I would like to be his team mate], I imagine it being the title of every newspaper!” Leclerc smiled. “I mean Lewis is such an incredible driver and he has achieved so much in the sport.

“I think anybody on the grid would love to have Lewis as a team mate, as everybody will learn a lot from him. But I’m happy where I am and with Carlos it’s a great relationship too.”

Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will part ways with Mercedes at the end of 2024, and will make a sensational switch to Ferrari next year.

Hamilton has raced for the Silver Arrows since the 2013 season and has won six of his seven world titles with the team, adding to the crown he achieved at McLaren earlier in his career.

He had also re-committed to Mercedes last summer, signing a new deal to keep him aboard through 2025, but this will now be cut short to allow for his headline-making move.

Hamilton’s decision comes after two challenging seasons for the Brackley squad, who have struggled to adapt to F1’s latest ground effect era and have dropped behind Red Bull in the pecking order.

It means Hamilton will link up with Charles Leclerc, who recently agreed an extension with the Scuderia “beyond 2024”, while Carlos Sainz will have to make way at the end of this year.

Amid intense speculation over Hamilton’s F1 future last year, Leclerc was asked about the prospect of teaming up with the Briton and admitted he would be open to it.

If I say yes [I would like to be his team mate], I imagine it being the title of every newspaper!” Leclerc smiled. “I mean Lewis is such an incredible driver and he has achieved so much in the sport.

“I think anybody on the grid would love to have Lewis as a team mate, as everybody will learn a lot from him. But I’m happy where I am and with Carlos it’s a great relationship too.”

Haas have revealed a series of digital renders of their 2024 challenger the VF-24 that is adorned by an evolution of their traditional black, red and white livery.

As has been the case for several years, the American team have gone for a low-key launch, preferring to send out imagery of their new challenger before revealing the real thing when it hits the track for a shakedown at Silverstone on February 11 with Nico Hulkenberg behind the wheel.

This will be their first season in F1 without Guenther Steiner at the helm, with Ayao Komatsu stepping up from his engineering leadership role to take the reins.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the VF-24 running and racing – a sentiment,” said team owner Gene Haas. “I know I share with our partners and indeed the entire team.

“In Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, we also know we’ve got a great pair of drivers behind the wheel, their experience will prove invaluable again as we develop our program through the year. We’ve used the off-season to put the processes in place to be better and ultimately improve our overall performance. Soon we get to see how we’re doing.”

Komatsu added: “We’re realistic about our expectations for the VF-24 to start but it’s still an exciting moment in any Formula 1 season to showcase the car.

"There’s a lot of work ahead of us to make progress and increase our performance but everyone here is highly motivated and eager to get on track with the VF-24.

“I know we’ll be maximizing our time in Bahrain with all the various items we need to push through. Bottom line, we can’t wait to get going and get the season underway.”

The team, who will once again run Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, will be aiming to improve on their last place finish in 2023’s constructors’ championship.

They accept that this will be a challenge, with Komatsu admitting Haas are likely to be “towards the back of the grid, if not last” in Bahrain because of delays in development last year when he says they stopped for two months to focus on delivering their significant upgrade for Austin.

Following the car’s running at Silverstone on February 11, a second shakedown will take place in Bahrain eight days later, before pre-season testing begins at the same venue on February 21, running for three days.

there was also the revelation that an offer of an in-person meeting from F1 had not been accepted.

“Having had the opportunity to consider the applicant’s responses together with our own deliberations, we subsequently wrote to the applicant on 12 December, 2023 extending an invitation to an in-person meeting at our offices in order for the applicant to present its application, but the applicant did not take us up on this offer,” F1 claimed.

Andretti now says that invitation was not received, with AP reporting the email in question was from an FOM staff member and went into a junk folder.

“We were not aware that the offer of a meeting had been extended and would not decline a meeting with Formula One Management,” Andretti added. “An in-person meeting to discuss commercial matters would be and remains of paramount importance to Andretti Cadillac. We welcome the opportunity to meet with Formula One Management and have written to them confirming our interest.”

Williams have shown off the livery that will adorn their cars during the upcoming F1 season at a special launch ceremony in New York.

After livery reveals from McLaren and Haas, it was the Grove outfit’s turn to present their colour scheme for the year ahead, with an evolved deep blue design which, according to the team, “links Williams’ championship-winning heritage with its mission to return to the front of the grid”.

Williams also took the opportunity to announce a new multi-year headline partnership with Komatsu, who are a leading manufacturer of construction, mining, forestry and industrial heavy equipment.

The two parties previously enjoyed a successful partnership in the 1980s and 1990s, when Williams won a host of races and championships, including the supply of gearbox components for the title-winning 1996 and 1997 cars.

With James Vowles brought in as Team Principal early last year in an effort to spark a new era of success, the operation enjoyed an immediate rise from the foot of the F1 constructors’ standings to seventh position in 2023 – Alex Albon scoring all bar one of their points.

Albon will continue at the squad for a third successive campaign in 2024, with Logan Sargeant retained alongside him after his rookie term.

“It is a significant milestone to unveil the 2024 livery at an iconic location in New York City,” said Vowles, with the launch taking place at PUMA’s Flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

“Since joining Williams Racing a year ago, I’ve seen this team pull together to overcome a number of challenges and claim seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, which meant a great deal for everyone involved. We’ve also shown the world that we’re building the foundations for moving forward.

“We’ll continue to strengthen the team both on and off the track through improvements to our infrastructure, investing in our people, and attracting fantastic new partners like Komatsu.

“Of course, there’s still a long way to go on this journey together but I know our fans, partners and everyone at Grove HQ is pushing as one to create new history for this iconic team.

“It will take time, but everyone’s support is integral to help drive us towards success in the years to come. I’m looking forward to seeing what this season holds for us.”

The full-blown FW46 will make its track debut at a promotional filming day in Bahrain on February 20 ahead of official pre-season testing, which begins at the same Sakhir venue on February 21.

F1 Sprint will return for a fourth season in 2024 and a format tweak is set to make the spectacle more engaging than ever.

As outlined in December, Brazil will host its fourth consecutive Sprint weekend, with Austria to stage its third, Austin and Qatar returning for a second year, and China and Miami joining the line-up for the first time.

On Monday, the F1 Commission met to discuss a range of matters and, shortly after the gathering concluded, a Sprint format update was communicated.

For this year, the Sprint Shootout will move from Saturday to Friday, following an initial free practice session for track acclimatisation and set-up work.

The 100km Sprint will then take place on Saturday, ahead of qualifying for the Grand Prix later that day. The Grand Prix itself will remain on Sunday.

The regulatory refinements for these changes will be presented to the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on February 28.

Away from the Sprint, a proposal to increase the power unit allocation to four per driver for the 2024 and 2025 seasons was agreed.

Additionally, DRS activation for the race will be anticipated to one lap as opposed to two laps after the start of the race, or the re-start following a Safety Car.