With only months remaining in his current contract with Mercedes, many are speculating on the future of Lewis Hamilton. Many believe the Brit will kick off the 2024 silly season for a host of reasons. Mercedes is still confident the Brit will renew his contract owing to his relationship with the team. However, the current state of the Brackley-based outfit is the reason former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa discussed his future with the team. The state of the team and the fact Hamilton has serious competition from his teammate George Russell.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Russell convincingly beat Hamilton in the 2022 season with 35 points in his first year with Mercedes. Because of the events of 2022, there is a sense of a shift in dynamics as well. This competition from Russell and the continued poor state of Mercedes is enough reason for Hamilton to look elsewhere. Massa believes so as well as per his comments to Gazzetta dello Sport, as quoted by Express.

“I don’t know if Hamilton will choose to stop,” said the Brazilian. “What is true is that, in Russell, he (Lewis Hamilton) has for the first time found a teammate who can really cause him trouble. That only creates additional doubts as a Formula One driver.”

“It is not easy to find motivation when you have already won everything and drive a Mercedes that is struggling to reach the desired level,” he added.

Read More: With Twilight Fading on Lewis Hamilton, George Russell Given a “Big Compliment” in a Tight Mercedes Battle

This is not all Massa talked about. He also talked about his ongoing desire to strip Hamilton of his first title.

Felipe Massa wants to right the wrong from 2008  by stripping Lewis Hamilton of his title

Hamilton won his first title in the last lap of the last race of the season. This was Hamilton’s second year in the premier class in 2008. The season was marred with controversy and drama on and off the track. Now 15 years later, Hamilton’s biggest competitor from the 2008 season wants to strip him of his title. Let us tell you his reasoning.

In 2008, during the Singapore GP Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed forcing a safety car. The safety car changed the fate of the race, and Fernando Alonso won the race instead of Massa. Piquet Jr. later revealed his team principal instructed him to crash on purpose. A race win in Singapore, which Massa would’ve won, would’ve seen him win the 2008 championship.

WATCH THIS STORY: Lewis Hamilton Finds Himself in an Unusual Situation With His Teammate for the First Time Since 2007

Massa is rallying to see the Singapore GP canceled effectively making him the champion. If this scenario comes to pass, we can imagine Mercedes will want a similar outcome for the 2021 championship as well. Either way, Hamilton will remain a seven-time champion.