Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation has been in the headlines of the 2023 F1 season so far, with the seven-time World Champion set to be a free agent next year as it stands.
His current deal with Mercedes is due to expire at the end of this season, with an extension yet to be agreed.
It was expected that a multi-year deal for 2024 and 2025 would be signed before the season-opener in Bahrain, after Hamilton and team boss Toto Wolff suggested that talks would take place over the winter break.
With nothing having been agreed, though, and with Mercedes currently struggling, many have questioned whether Hamilton could actually leave the Germans for Ferrari.
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Hamilton has previously expressed how much he’d like to drive for Ferrari, with the 38-year-old having always felt welcomed by the Tifosi.
With all the rumours going around, Hamilton actually addressed his contract situation ahead of this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, where he revealed what it would take for him to leave Mercedes.
Based on his comments, Hamilton is certainly feeling “challenged” at Mercedes and believes catching Red Bull will be their “hardest task” to-date, suggesting that a move away from Brackley is not on the cards.
“If I don’t feel like I’m being challenged, I’m not progressing or I’m not evolving, that is where you start thinking about your next move,” Hamilton said, as per Express.co.uk.
“And I just haven’t felt that in these 10 years.
“I feel like the whole team has been evolving, with new people, new structures being put in place, new targets being set. I feel that I’ve had the right team to grow. Not only as a driver but as a man.
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“I’ve been given the ability to be myself and been accepted by Mercedes. And look what we’ve accomplished together – not only in results on track but things we’ve accomplished off-track and the steps we’ve taken.
“The changes we’re making through Accelerate 25 and Mission 44, where we are really starting to impact people. It makes me so proud because we hold ourselves to the highest standards and highest levels in everything we do. We know we’re not perfect and we can always be better – that’s what we are always trying to do.
“We don’t have a great car right now but we’re putting one foot in front of the other. We know we can get back to the front. It’s going to be the hardest task we’ve faced together to get back to where we want to be and catch Red Bull. But what an accomplishment that will be!”