As is well known, Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the season, but it is still completely unclear how things will continue afterwards. Speculations recently arose that linked the seven-time Formula 1 world champion with a change to Ferrari. Ex-pilot Ralf Schumacher has a clear opinion on this.
“I think it’s just a rumor for several reasons,” said the younger brother of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher in an interview with “Sky” on Tuesday.
Hamilton is “very happy where he is and still has a score to settle,” explained the 47-year-old, who currently sees the Englishman in a “very good team”. Ferrari, on the other hand, is a single “big question mark”.
Schumacher also revealed that Hamilton recently revealed at an event in Stuttgart that he wanted to end his career at Mercedes. After that he wants to act as a brand ambassador for the Silver Arrows.
Schumacher: Driver swap “very, very unlikely”
The English “Daily Mail” had previously claimed that Ferrari was planning to offer Hamilton a mega contract worth around 46 million euros. The idea is being promoted in the top committees of the Scuderia.
The background is the desire for Hamilton to win his eighth world title there, breaking Michael Schumacher’s record. The German once won five of his seven titles with the Italians.
The preferred option is to establish the Brit as the second top driver alongside Charles Leclerc. It is also conceivable, however, that one “sacrifices” the Monegasques.
In this constellation, Carlos Sainz should keep his cockpit. Meanwhile, Leclerc would probably take the opposite step and take over Hamilton’s Mercedes.
However, Ralf Schumacher does not believe in such a scenario. “If you look at the error rate of Leclerc and Hamilton lately, there are no two opinions. Lewis is the more consistent pilot,” the ex-driver clarified. He therefore considers an exchange to be “very, very unlikely”.