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Lewis Hamilton denied on Thursday that Ferrari had offered him a contract. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion expects to sign a new agreement with Mercedes “in the coming weeks”.
Vincent Van GenechtenBron: BELGIAN
With Hamilton’s current contract due to expire in six months, rumors are circulating about his future in the sport. Ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, the Daily Mail reported that Ferrari is angling for its services.
When 38-year-old Hamilton was asked on Thursday whether Ferrari had contacted him, he replied: “No. There is always speculation in contract negotiations. And unless you hear it from me, it’s just that. My team is working closely behind the scenes with (Mercedes team principal) Toto Wolff, and a new contract is almost ready.”
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Hamilton is aiming for an eighth world title, which would make him the record holder alone. Now he has to share the record with the German Michael Schumacher. Only recently the Mercedes car disappointed. In the current World Cup standings, he is already 63 points behind leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull), on his way to a third world title in a row. “However, we are still a team that can win the championship,” said the Briton. “We just had the wrong car and decisions were made over the last two years that were not ideal. We are working on that now. We have a new upgrade this weekend. The team has worked incredibly hard to implement this upgrade in this race, even though Monaco is not the best circuit for it.”
Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur also denied on Thursday that negotiations are being held with Hamilton. “At this stage of the season there is a new story every week. We didn’t make an offer to Hamilton. But I think every team would like to have a Hamilton,” Vasseur told Autosport.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc could laugh at the rumors:
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“Then he should stay now”
Fernando Alonso has reacted in his own way to the rumors about a possible switch from Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. Alonso and Hamilton are not the best of friends to say the least, having been teammates at McLaren in 2007.
“He (Lewis, ed.) has always said that he wins and loses, together with the team. So even if he doesn’t win, he will have to stay,” said Alonso, with a broad smile on his face.
Hamilton was linked in the Daily Mail last week with a move to Ferrari. The contract of the seven-time world champion expires after this season. In the past, he has also been linked more often to a departure for the Scuderia, but that never happened.