Over the past few weeks, speculation has ramped up about the future of Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes talisman will be coming to the end of his current contract with the Silver Arrows at the end of 2023. However, we are yet to hear anything concrete as to an extension. But what has really caused a furore about the 7x champion’s future at the Brackley-based team is interest from another top team that can change the course of this sport.
Recently, reports suggested that Ferrari has made a huge offer to lure Hamilton away from Mercedes. That being said, a lot has changed since Formula 1 returned. After a brief two-week break, the sport returned with the Monaco GP. This was the perfect opportunity for Toto Wolff to set the record straight about his star driver.
Toto Wolff suspects dirty tactics in Hamilton’s contract negotiations
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Hamilton may not have been performing at the very peak of his powers since 2o22. But that doesn’t change the fact that he still is arguably the greatest driver to grace the sport. Hence, Wolff feels a third party is trying to add a dimension to this already convoluted contract saga that is being estimated now at a whopping $75,000,000.
Wolff was quoted by Fox Sports as saying, “Someone just placed that [story] maybe to, in a way, play a role in what seemed to be a negotiation. But it is not a negotiation; it’s sitting on a table and saying ‘What is it we need adapt in the contract?’ So there’s nothing to it.”
He added, “The contract was ready in 2013. We’ve never really changed a lot of words in there … [just] the dates, the marketing days.”
With all that Wolff is saying, is there even a slightest chance that Hamilton may ditch the Silver Arrows?
Lewis Hamilton resoundingly shuts Ferrari door
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This isn’t the first time that Hamilton has been linked to a move with the Maranello-based team. In 2019, he was tipped to make a switch to the Scuderia. A lot has changed since 2019 in this sport and Hamilton’s career, but his words, though uttered five years ago, still warrant some merit.
He was quoted by The Independent as saying, “The Ferrari thing is not going to happen, I think. I’ve always been positive about Ferrari. I’ve always been a Ferrari fan. I remember one of the first cars I ever bought was a Ferrari. And I think it’s a hugely iconic team and brand, particularly.”
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Watch this story: Lewis Hamilton invests in rapid grocery delivery start-up Zapp
Do you think Hamilton will eventually end up with the prancing horse?