

Leclerc laughed off any suggestion he could partner Hamilton in the future, saying he only wants a fast teammate and that Sainz is “extremely fast.”Īsked if he would welcome racing next to Hamilton at Ferrari, Leclerc replied: “If I say yes, I imagine it being the title on every newspaper!

“We are not sending an offer to Lewis Hamilton. “At this stage of the season, you will have each week a different story (about the drivers),” said Vasseur. Prior to Hamilton’s appearance in the news conference where he shut down the speculation, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur also denied there had been any talks over a shock move. In Australia at the start of April, he said he wanted his relationship with Mercedes to last well beyond his F1 career and go to his “last days,” similar to 1950s racing icon Stirling Moss. Hamilton has always maintained in recent months he is only focused on staying with Mercedes. “I remember I used to do my negotiations on my own and it was very stressful, so I don’t have to do that anymore.” “It’s a much better position than I was in before,” said Hamilton. But negotiations are now being led by his management team. In previous years, Hamilton has handled contract renewals himself, including the most recent agreement signed in 2021 to cover 20.
#2440X1440 GRID AUTOSPORT IMAGES SERIES#
It also ended Mercedes’ streak of eight consecutive constructors’ championships dating back to 2014.Ī series of car upgrades will debut in Monaco this weekend as the team looks to turn its fortunes around and find more performance, and Hamilton said the current level of performance at Mercedes had no bearing on negotiations. The car design last season saw it struggle to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari on a regular basis, resigning Hamilton to the first winless season of his F1 career. Whereas previous negotiation periods have coincided with Hamilton’s successful periods, Mercedes is in a very different position now.
#2440X1440 GRID AUTOSPORT IMAGES DRIVER#
Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has won six of his seven world titles and surpassed 100 race wins, making him the only driver in triple-figures in F1 history. The future of F1’s most successful and globally known driver is always going to be a hot topic, particularly in the final year of his current deal. Since the last race in Miami at the start of the month, reports emerged in both the UK and Italy linking Hamilton to Ferrari for 2024 with a potential contract worth close to $50 million per season. We’re almost there.”Īsked if Ferrari had been in contact, Hamilton replied: “No.” Backstory “My team are having discussions with the team in the background.
