Lewis Hamilton has dismissed rumours linking him to a move to Ferrari by confirming that he never received an offer from the Italian team.
While negotiations for Hamilton’s new two-year deal with Mercedes faced delays, there were speculations of Ferrari’s interest.
However, Hamilton has now clarified the situation, stating that he “never” received any offer from Ferrari.
In an interview with Blick newspaper, Hamilton shared his perspective on the matter: “Ok, we’ve definitely had a few irrelevant conversations.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
“I know a lot of good people there.
“But I’ve never felt ready to move to Italy.”
The interviewer, Roger Benoit, reminded Hamilton of a past statement in which he had expressed his intention to quit Formula 1 before turning 40.
Hamilton responded, “I have to admit that I underestimated my love for this sport.
“But it’s become a love-hate story.
“There are days when I would prefer not to get into the cockpit.
“But then the duels with my teammate (George Russell) give me motivation. You always have to be wide awake.”
Reflecting on his qualifying performances in the new ‘ground effect’ era of 2022 and 2023, Hamilton acknowledged their subpar nature, saying, “I try to push myself to the limit in every race and believe in my team. But it’s true. If you don’t feel the balance in the car, your willingness to take risks becomes smaller.”
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Hamilton expressed hope for a more competitive car to challenge Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
When asked about his former rival, he had words of praise: “What do you want to hear?
“All I can say to him is keep doing what you’re doing.
“Because Max is currently doing an extraordinary job at Red Bull.”
Regarding his own future in Formula 1, Hamilton didn’t rule out the possibility of extending his career beyond the end of his newly-signed contract, which runs through 2025: “I never said my eighth title would be the end for me.
READ: Ferrari demand Haas sign 18-year-old British driver
“But I’ll only know that when I actually get there.
“Without a great car, you can’t achieve the big goals in Formula 1.
“No one can.”