After Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Rejection Due to $204,000,000 Hurdle, Mercedes Put to Shame by F1 Legend Over Contract Extension

Lewis Hamilton and his contract negotiations that are set to keep him in Formula 1 post-2023 have been just as undulating as Mercedes’ performances in the past couple of seasons. Some rumors suggest that the seven-time champion has extended his stay at Mercedes. At the same time, there have been speculations that Ferrari offered him a seat under a whopping $49 million contract. As interested as Ferrari might’ve been in Hamilton—who was rumored to replace Charles Leclerc—the Monegasque neutralized the treat.

While Hamilton was negotiating his contract with Mercedes, Leclerc held negotiations at Ferrari. Even though his Ferrari contract expires only at the end of 2024, he wanted to get the pressure of dealing with it in 2024 out of the way. According to reports, Leclerc might’ve signed a 2+3 year deal worth $204 million, leading Hamilton to step out of the way. Should Hamilton give Ferrari a second glance, though?

Lewis Hamilton shouldn’t let the Ferrari chance go so easily

Ferrari’s interest in Hamilton threatened Leclerc’s future in Maranello, but his rumored deal seemingly compelled Hamilton to reject the Scuderia. As per F1 legend Johnny Herbert, Hamilton should ideally pursue the case longer. Ferrari is not just like any other team in F1. It’s the oldest and most glorious one. While it has had a tough few seasons in the sport, there’s no doubt it will return to the front at some point or the other. It showed signs of resurgence in 2022, something Mercedes hasn’t achieved in the past two seasons.

As quoted by Casinosite.nl, Herbert said, “I hope he [Hamilton] is still thinking that Mercedes potentially isn’t working for him, and what is the next best thing? The Red One. Ferrari. That’s the only option.” Toto Wolff has reiterated that Hamilton will be part of Mercedes’ resurrection. But if the second half of the season shows no signs of progress in Brackley, Herbert believes Maranello is the best option for the 38-year-old.

“Are those conversations [with Ferrari] happening? I would be shocked if nothing was happening. I think it would be the best thing to do, as I’ve said before. [Ferrari] have all the ingredients. They just need to get them all mixed together,” Herbert added. From what Hamilton has said lately, though, it seems he’s made his decision.

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Mercedes just might be it for Lewis Hamilton

Apart from giving the minutest updates like, “There is no negotiation left. It is all just small bits,” Hamilton and Mercedes have remained quite tight-lipped about the entire ordeal. With rumors that the seven-time champion has signed a one-year extension with the possibility of another season—which he’ll likely announce at the Dutch GP—his future seems all but sealed at Mercedes for at least another season. 

Despite the underwhelming pace of the W14 and its slow development rate, the Brit echoed Wolff’s comments about sticking with the Brackley squad through its resurgence. He said, “I don’t care in which position I finish my 2023, I just want to help the team as much as possible in development so that we can start next year, at the first test and at the first race, with a car that has no rebounds, that has that downforce and that efficiency that we need. Then we can fight anyone. That’s my dream.”

Do you think Lewis Hamilton is still in conversation with Ferrari, or is Mercedes all he’s focusing on?

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