Lewis Hamilton recently disclosed that he engaged in “casual conversations” with Ferrari about the prospect of donning the famous red overalls. However, he ultimately decided against making the move to Italy.
The future of Hamilton’s career in Formula 1 has been a subject of intense debate in 2023, primarily due to multiple delays in finalizing his contract extension with Mercedes, his long-standing team.
Speculations regarding a potential switch to Ferrari emerged midway through the season, creating waves of excitement among fans and pundits alike. However, the suspense was finally put to rest when Mercedes and Hamilton announced a multi-year contract extension at the Italian Grand Prix.
When probed about whether Ferrari had formally presented him with a contract offer, Hamilton was quick to respond during an interview with German newspaper Blick, stating unequivocally, “Never.” However, he did acknowledge, “Okay, I’m sure we’ve had a few casual conversations. I know a lot of good people there. But I never felt ready to move to Italy.”
The complexities surrounding Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes were unveiled by Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who described the process as “tricky.” Nevertheless, they successfully reached an agreement that ensures Hamilton’s services with the team until at least the end of 2025.
Hamilton shed light on the intricate negotiations with Wolff, emphasizing their mutual commitment to Formula 1. He explained, “This is not the first time that the two of us discussed for hours and haggled over details.”
He continued, “Always under the motto: From Thursday to Sunday, I belong exclusively to Formula 1. There are so many details about my promotional activities. I’m in a happy position with Toto. He is respected and admired by everyone. It’s easy to negotiate with him. And that makes him a great leader.”
When asked whether he personally reviews the contract details, Hamilton replied candidly, “Of course, I want to know exactly what’s in there. But now it’s over 200 pages, or a f**king book. And that takes you days!”
Hamilton’s revelations about his past discussions with Ferrari and the intricacies of his contract negotiations provide a glimpse into the world of Formula 1, where decisions about a driver’s future can be as meticulously scrutinized as the milliseconds that separate victory from defeat on the track. Hamilto recently disclosed that he engaged in “casual conversations” with Ferrari about the prospect of donning the famous red overalls. However, he ultimately decided against making the move to Italy.
The future of Hamilton’s career in Formula 1 has been a subject of intense debate in 2023, primarily due to multiple delays in finalizing his contract extension with Mercedes, his long-standing team.
Speculations regarding a potential switch to Ferrari emerged midway through the season, creating waves of excitement among fans and pundits alike. However, the suspense was finally put to rest when Mercedes and Hamilton announced a multi-year contract extension at the Italian Grand Prix.
When probed about whether Ferrari had formally presented him with a contract offer, Hamilton was quick to respond during an interview with German newspaper Blick, stating unequivocally, “Never.” However, he did acknowledge, “Okay, I’m sure we’ve had a few casual conversations. I know a lot of good people there. But I never felt ready to move to Italy.”
The complexities surrounding Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes were unveiled by Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, who described the process as “tricky.” Nevertheless, they successfully reached an agreement that ensures Hamilton’s services with the team until at least the end of 2025.
Hamilton shed light on the intricate negotiations with Wolff, emphasizing their mutual commitment to Formula 1. He explained, “This is not the first time that the two of us discussed for hours and haggled over details.”
He continued, “Always under the motto: From Thursday to Sunday, I belong exclusively to Formula 1. There are so many details about my promotional activities. I’m in a happy position with Toto. He is respected and admired by everyone. It’s easy to negotiate with him. And that makes him a great leader.”
When asked whether he personally reviews the contract details, Hamilton replied candidly, “Of course, I want to know exactly what’s in there. But now it’s over 200 pages, or a f**king book. And that takes you days!”
Hamilton’s revelations about his past discussions with Ferrari and the intricacies of his contract negotiations provide a glimpse into the world of Formula 1, where decisions about a driver’s future can be as meticulously scrutinized as the milliseconds that separate victory from defeat on the track.