With Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes rolling on, rumours have been flying throughout the paddock about the future of the seven time world champion.
Ranging from retirement to a move to Ferrari, there has been no end of speculation about where the Formula 1 driver could end up after his contract expires in a few months.
The rumours about Hamilton’s potential move away from Mercedes haven’t been helped by the poor performance on show by the Silver Arrows this year, as the team has failed to find a way to fight for a title under the new era of regulations.
While a deal hasn’t emerged publicly between Hamilton and Mercedes, the two sides have repeatedly claimed that they are working toward an agreement to extend his partnership with the team beyond the 2023 season.
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Despite all the hype about a potential switch to Ferrari, the Italian team’s long-time associate Marc Gene has rejected a possible move, believing that Hamilton wouldn’t gel well with the team.
“I’m not the one who decides the drivers, but knowing the Scuderia now [he] doesn’t fit into their philosophy and I see him finishing his career in Mercedes,” Gene told sport.es.
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Hamilton reportedly has a £40 million per year contract on the table if he wants to move to Ferrari, although the Brit seemed to quash these claims during the pre-race press conference in Monaco.
With media speculation building, Mercedes team principle Toto Wolff has attempted to calm the rumour mill by stating that the Silver Arrows are in a “super happy position” with Hamilton and the negotiations will be concluded in the near future.
Mercedes will be hoping that, returning to a more conventional track in Barcelona, the recent upgrade package will give them the ability to fight for pole and podiums, encouraging Hamilton to stick with their mission for the foreseeable future.