Lewis Hamilton has repeatedly emphasized that he sees his future in Formula 1 at Mercedes. For its part, the racing team from Woking never tires of explaining that extending the contract with the 38-year-old Briton beyond the end of 2023 is only a matter of form. Instead of an official confirmation, however, rumors have recently increased that Ferrari is luring Hamilton with a record contract. If you believe Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, this is a good tactic for Scuderia.
It’s no secret that Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton feels at home at Mercedes. However, the fact that the veteran is used to being up front and the Silver Arrows cannot offer him this opportunity at the moment is also not certain. According to Helmut Marko from the currently dominant Red Bull racing team, there is another aspect that rankles Hamilton – and could drive him into the arms of Ferrari?
“There are two things that really annoy Hamilton. Firstly, that he is no longer world champion and will have a hard time becoming it again in the future,” Marko told “F1-Insider.com”. However, the 80-year-old emphasizes that it is very uncertain whether a switch to Ferrari would increase Hamilton’s chances of another title. And at Red Bull it was simply “there is no place for him”.
According to the Austrian, however, there is another circumstance that bothers Hamilton. “Besides the sporting perspective, Lewis is anything but happy that he is no longer the highest earning driver in Formula 1. That’s Max Verstappen now. At least he could change that with Ferrari’s help.”
The “Daily Mail” recently reported that Ferrari should lure Hamilton with a mega contract worth 46 million euros. According to the newspaper, Ferrari President John Elkann is already in close contact with Hamilton. However, Verstappen is said to collect around 50 million euros per season from Red Bull, so in Maranello you would have to stretch a little to fulfill Hamilton’s supposed wish.
Ultimately, however, anything other than Hamilton staying at Mercedes would be a sensation. Especially since the longtime dominator would probably have to justify some statements.
For example, he explained to ESPN: “I’ve been thinking about the Ferrari drivers and watching them on the screens at the circuit, and of course you wonder what it would be like to drive in red. But then I go to my team , to Mercedes, and this is my home. I’m happy where I am. I haven’t signed a contract yet, but we’re working on one.”