Lewis Hamilton admits he will be fulfilling a dream by following in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari.
The Brit has spoken to the media for the first time since it was announced that he will be leaving Mercedes at the end of the 2024 season.
Hamilton will cut short the contract he signed with the Silver Arrows last August and join Ferrari on a multi-year deal from 2025.
The news shocked the world of Formula One, ending a 12-year spell at Mercedes for the driver, who has won six of his seven world titles with them.
Lewis Hamilton says it was his dream to follow in Michael Schumacher's footsteps at Ferrari
Sky Sports/Getty
Hamilton admits it was a tough decision but says he felt the time was right to start a new chapter.
The 39-year-old said: "Obviously in summer we signed and at that time I saw my future with Mercedes.
"But an opportunity came up in the New Year and I decided to take it. It was obviously the hardest decision I think I've ever had to make.
"I've been with Mercedes for I think it's like 26 years they've supported me and we've had an absolutely incredible journey together.
"We have created history within the sport and it's something I take a lot of pride in and am very proud of what we've achieved.
"But I think ultimately I'm writing my story and I felt like it was time to start a new chapter."
Hamilton revealed that it has been a dream since he was a child to drive for Ferrari.
He says that stemmed from his love for Schumacher, who he often played as on F1 video games.
Hamilton added: "I think for every driver growing up watching history, watching Michael Schumacher in his prime, I think probably all of us sit in our garage and see the screen pop up and you see the driver in the red cockpit and you wonder what it would like to be surrounded by the red.
"You go to the Italian Grand Prix and you see the sea of red of the Ferrari fans and you can only stand in awe of that.
"It's a team that's not had like huge success mostly obviously from Michael's days but since 2007 [when Kimi Raikkonen won the team's title] and I saw it as a huge challenge.
"Without a doubt, even as a kid I used to play on GP2 [the video game] as Michael in that car so it definitely is a dream and I'm really, really excited about it."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Lewis Hamilton spoke to the media for the first time since his Ferrari move was confirmed
Getty
Schumacher won seven World Championships during his career, a record he currently shares with Hamilton.
The German's last five triumphs came when he was at Ferrari, winning every year between 2000 and 2004.
Hamilton still has work to do at Mercedes before he makes the move and is determined to go out on a high.
He said: "Just go back, about this new chapter, this chapter [at Mercedes] is still not finished.
Lewis Hamilton is determined to finish on a high at Mercedes
Getty
"I'm still 100 per cent focused on delivering for this team this year and trying to finish on a high. That's a big, big goal for me and of the team.
"And I have absolute faith in everything and everyone in the team, and what we've done so far, I think is great.
"So I really hope that we are somehow able to close the gap to the Red Bulls somehow."