Ferrari set to offer Lewis Hamilton a whopping $50 Million to join them in 2024 amid Mercedes contract uncertainty: Report
Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires at the end of the 2023 season.
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Frédéric Vasseur & Lewis Hamilton (Image via Crash.net)
Ferrari are interested in signing the seven-time world champion and Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton for the 2024 Formula 1 season. The Briton’s contract with Mercedes AMG Petronas expires at the end of the year. Amidst the contract extension talks, new reports have emerged stating Ferrari are set to offer Hamilton a whopping $50 million (£40m) to join them.
According to Mail Sport, Ferrari are working on a deal to sign Hamilton and give him a chance to win his eighth Formula 1 world title with them. The conversations about the signing are linked to Ferrari president John Elkann reportedly. As per the reports, Elkann has contacted Hamilton already, and there is a serious discussion. The source adds that if Hamilton signs a contract with the Maranello outfit, he would be placed alongside Charles Leclerc.
If Ferrari manage to sign Hamilton, Carlos Sainz will have to look for a new seat on the F1 grid. There were already rumors linking him to Audi. However, there is another option for them, which is to sacrifice Leclerc for Hamilton. In this scenario, the Briton would drive alongside Sainz, and Leclerc would move to Mercedes. Ferrari’s first option is to partner Hamilton with Leclerc for the next season.
Lewis Hamilton might switch to Ferrari if Mercedes don’t improve
It is reported that money is not an issue as both Mercedes and Ferrari are willing to meet the financial requirements in signing the seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton has often stated that he is committed to Mercedes and would stay with them till the end. However, the goal is to achieve his eighth world title in the next few seasons.
This is the second season Mercedes have not provided Hamilton with a championship-winning car. Though he has been patient and affirmed his loyalty to Mercedes, he has not signed a contract yet. This started the speculation about his departure from the team. Toto Wolff and Hamilton have repeated that they are working on a deal, but there are no announcements yet.
Lewis Hamilton could make his decision after giving the Silver Arrows the benefit of the doubt at the Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes will bring major upgrades in Monaco, which include a new floor, front suspension, and sidepod. They hope to close the gap to Red Bull and challenge for the title.
If these upgrades work, then Mercedes will have one less problem. If the updates fail, then Hamilton might consider his options. It is safe to say that Toto Wolff would not stop Hamilton from leaving if he wants to win his record-breaking championship with another team.
After all, it is no secret that every F1 driver, including Hamilton, would love to drive for an iconic team like Ferrari. The future remains uncertain, and one must wait patiently to see how things turn out.
In case you missed it:
- “Bring back Mugello,” Max Verstappen vouches for a return to Tuscany following Imola’s cancellation
- Carlos Sainz puts an end to ‘stupid’ Audi rumors while reaffirming commitment to Ferrari
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Sugantha Meena
(493 Articles Published)