Lewis Hamilton says new Mercedes deal is close, no Ferrari talks
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Asked directly whether Ferrari had been in touch, Hamilton replied “no”.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MONTE CARLO – Lewis Hamilton has denied talking to Ferrari about a move to the Italian team and said on Thursday that he was close to agreeing a new contract with Mercedes.
The seven-time Formula One world champion, the sport’s most successful driver, is out of contract at the end of the season and there has been speculation that he could join Ferrari.
“My team are working closely behind the scenes with (Mercedes team boss) Toto (Wolff). We are almost at the end of having a contract ready,” the 38-year-old Briton said ahead of the weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
“Having a team focus on that so I can just do my job, it’s a much better position than I was in before because I remember I used to do all my negotiations on my own and it was very stressful. I don’t have to do that any more.”
Asked directly whether Ferrari had been in touch, Hamilton replied: “No.”
He added: “Naturally, when you are in contract negotiations, there is always going to be speculation. But, unless you hear it from me, that’s all it is.”
Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur also said that the team had not made any offer.
“We didn’t have discussions. But I think every single team on the grid would like to have Hamilton at one stage. It would be rubbish to not say something like this,” added the Frenchman.
Hamilton also said that he hoped the talks with Mercedes would be wrapped up “in the coming weeks”.
The Daily Mail reported on Monday that Ferrari were set to offer him a £40 million (S$67 million) deal to partner Charles Leclerc, but he just laughed it off.
He suggested that maybe the media had “just got bored” after last weekend’s scheduled Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola was cancelled due to flooding.
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (left) and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (right) at the drivers’ press conference ahead of the Monaco grand prix.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Leclerc, who was at the same press conference with Hamilton, winced when asked if he would welcome the Briton as a teammate.
He said: “If I say yes, I imagine it being the title of every newspaper.
“I think anybody on the grid would love to have Lewis as a teammate as everybody will learn a lot from him.
“But I’m happy where I am and with Carlos (Sainz) it’s a great relationship too.”
On the track, Hamilton said Mercedes’ current lack of form had not affected his decision.
“It doesn’t have a bearing because we’re still a championship-winning team,” he said. REUTERS, AFP
