A performance change for Mercedes after the offers that are coming from other teams for one of the most veteran Formula 1 drivers
Ferrari is preparing a bold move to attract Lewis Hamilton to the team for F1 2024 in a mega financial deal, with chairman John Elkann already in “close contact”. hamilton He is in the final year of his contract with Mercedes, a team with whom he has won six World Championship titles since joining them in 2013.
But F1 2023 marks the second season in a row in which Mercedes struggles to provide a car worthy of a title, and while Hamilton has verbally confirmed his continued commitment to the cause, he has yet to sign on the dotted line. Currently with seven world title successes, Hamilton is focused on achieving the eighth, which would set him apart from Michael Schumacher.
Could Hamilton follow in Schumacher’s footsteps at Ferrari?
Could he reach that ultimate goal with the team where Schumacher became an icon? Mail Sport understands that Ferrari prepares to offer Hamilton a contract around £40m to tempt him to swap Brackley for Maranello, with Ferrari chairman Elkann leading the charge in pursuing the Briton.
The report adds that if Hamilton signs, according to sources in the UK and ItalyFerrari would seek to place Hamilton alongside Charles Leclerc, Which would leave Carlos Sainz, who has recently denied reports linking him to the Audi project, needing to find a new home. The other option on the table is a swap deal that would see Leclerc take Hamilton’s place at Mercedes, although Mercedes is said to be more than willing to match Ferrari financially to keep Hamilton.
Is Ferrari a better option for Hamilton?
Despite recent challenging times for Mercedes, there has been no weakening in the relationship between Hamilton and his team, which he has made clear throughout all these talks about his future. We know Hamilton will make tough decisions if he feels he must, such as when he shockingly left McLaren to join Mercedes, and the way that move turned out could give him confidence that another final push could bring the rewards once more.
Although Neither Ferrari nor Mercedes are a threat to Red Bull At this point, there is little to suggest that Ferrari would emerge first than Mercedes as Red Bull’s next rival, with the Scuderia continuing to grapple with tire management issues that are leaving them at a disadvantage on race days. Leclerc is running out of the title challenges he craves, so if anything, Mercedes would be an ideal outlet for him, with the Monegasque driver also linked with possibly making that switch.