Lewis Hamilton parts way with McLaren, to replace Michael Schumacher in Mercedes next season

Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton has signed a three-year deal with the Mercedes Formula One team and will replace seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher for the upcoming season.

A report in The Hindu writes that the move for the 2008 world champion comes after Mercedes-Benz signed a new commercial agreement with the sport’s commercial rights holder, guaranteeing the team’s long-term commitment.

There was no word on Schumacher’s future plans.

“It is now time for me to take on a fresh challenge and I am very excited to begin a new chapter racing for the Mercedez AMG Petronas Formula One team,” Hamilton was quoted in the report.

Meanwhile a report in The Times of India says that Mexican Sergio Perez has been named as the replacement for Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next season.

Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, is expected to join Mercedes in a deal that will likely see Michael Schumacher go back into retirement at the age of 43 after three unproductive years with that team.

"Sergio's new deal means that he will begin a driving partnership with 2009 world champion Jenson Button," McLaren team was quoted in the report.

"For more than 40 years McLaren has been a team that every racing driver has aspired to drive for -- I was brought up on the great stories of Ayrton Senna's many world championship triumphs for McLaren - and I'm truly honoured that they've chosen me to partner Jenson from 2013 onwards," said Perez.