Lewis Hamilton on major stumbling block that’s prevented F1 move to Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton has opened up on the reason why he has never raced for F1’s oldest and most successful team, Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion has dominated on track for Mercedes since switching from McLaren where he won his maiden drivers’ world title back in 2008. Hamilton won six out of seven world titles between 2014 and 2020, but in recent years, he and Mercedes have fallen well below the pace of Red Bull.
The 38-year-old was linked with a switch to Ferrari in the early stages of the 2023 season after he only finished 6th in the championship last year with Mercedes well off the pace of Red Bull and Ferrari – who both finished above the Brackley-based team.
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Despite Hamilton being touted with an incredible switch to the Maranello-based team to possibly land his so far allusive eighth world title, the Brit committed to a new deal at Mercedes until 2025.
Hamilton told Swiss outlet Blick that he had never received an offer from Ferrari and revealed that he’s never ‘felt ready to move to Italy’ during his career, he said: “Never. Okay, we’ve definitely had a few irrelevant conversations. I know a lot of good people there. But I never felt ready to move to Italy.”
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After Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff stated an agreement on a new extension for Hamilton was ‘more days than weeks’ away, it was eventually confirmed three months later ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September.
Speaking on his new terms, Hamilton revealed that the delay was merely over ‘promotional activities’ opposed to being in contact with other teams, he said: “This isn’t the first time the two of us have discussed and haggled over details for hours. Always under the motto: From Thursday to Sunday I belong exclusively to Formula 1.”
He added on his boss: “There are so many details about my promotional activities. I’m in a fortunate position with Toto. He is respected and admired by everyone. It’s easy to negotiate with him. And that makes him a great leader.”
Hamilton’s decision to remain at Mercedes looks like it could be vindicated as he looks to challenge Sergio Perez for second place in the driver standings, with Max Verstappen 187 points clear of his Red Bull teammate.
Hamilton is currently 40 points ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who became the first non-Red Bull driver of the season to win a race this year in Singapore, and the Brit is also 55 points ahead of other Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
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