London (CNN) -- Lewis Hamilton has signed a three-year contract to race for the Mercedes Formula 1 team beginning next season. Friday's announcement by the team ends weeks of speculation about the Briton's future with McLaren -- a team he joined when he was 13 years old. "Looking ahead to 2013, I am delighted to welcome Lewis Hamilton to our team," Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said in a statement. "The arrival of a driver of Lewis' caliber is a testament to the standing of Mercedes-Benz in Formula 1 and I am proud that Lewis shares our vision and ambition for the success of the Silver Arrows," Brawn added.
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Speculation about Briton's future at McLaren ends with three-year deal with Mercedes
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Hamilton will partner Germany's Nico Rosberg with Michael Schumacher making way
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27-year-old, who won world championship in 2008, has been at McLaren since he was 13
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McLaren name 22-year-old Sauber driver Sergio Perez as replacement for Hamilton
In a statement, @placeholder said he had enjoyed his three years at Mercedes even if they didn't do as successfully as he would have liked on the track.