Ferrari set to offer Mercedes legend Lewis Hamilton £40m to switch teams next season

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Legendary Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton could be about to make a dramatic switch from Mercedes to Ferrari next season

That’s according to a report from the Daily Mail, as Ferrari lines up one of the biggest driver moves in F1 history.

Only Michael Schumacher can match Lewis Hamilton’s record of seven World Drivers’ Championships.

His domination with Mercedes has been incredible to watch as he helped the Silver Arrows win eight Constructors’ Championships on the bounce.

However, the car has not performed how he would have linked since 2021.

Max Verstappen narrowly denied him a record eighth title and since then Mercedes have been the third or fourth-quickest car.

Now, Ferrari are offering the 38-year-old Hamilton a chance to finish his F1 career away from Mercedes.

Could Lewis Hamilton drive for Ferrari in 2024?

The report from the Daily Mail suggests that Ferrari feel they have a real chance of convincing Hamilton to make the switch from Mercedes next season.

They’re willing to offer him a £40m deal to make the move at the end of 2023.

The Daily Mail believe that money wouldn’t be a deciding factor in Hamilton making the switch.

Ferrari company president John Elkann is thought to be in ‘close contact’ with Hamilton already.

It’s much more likely that Hamilton will be drawn towards joining the Italian team if he believes they can deliver a championship-winning car.

Mercedes haven’t been able to compete with the extremely fast Red Bull this season.

Hamilton’s second-place finish in Australia was due to the chaotic nature of the race rather than the raw speed of the car.

After so many years with Mercedes, Hamilton may decide to drive for F1’s most famous team before he hangs up his racing gloves.

Who would be Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Ferrari?

The report goes on to say that there are two scenarios should Hamilton decide to move teams in the winter.

Ferrari’s preference is that Hamilton partners with Charles Leclerc in 2024.

Although Ferrari don’t have an official number-one driver, the Monegasque has outperformed Carlos Sainz since being partnered together in 2021.

However, they may also consider a swap deal involving Leclerc and Hamilton.

It’s obvious why this wouldn’t be Ferrari’s preference, given the extra factors that would be in play that would scupper a deal.

All these considerations show that a move isn’t particularly close right now.

What is Lewis Hamilton’s current contract situation at Mercedes?

Hamilton will be a free agent at the end of the year when his contract at Mercedes expires.

The veteran driver has played down suggestions that he could leave the team having been affiliated with Mercedes since he was a teenager.

However, he recently said in an interview with ESPN that, “I’d be lying if I said I’d never thought about ending my career anywhere else.

“I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red… But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home.

“I’m happy where I am. I haven’t signed a contract yet, but we are working on one.”

Until a deal is officially signed with Mercedes, speculation linking Hamilton with Ferrari will continue.

What has Toto Wolff said about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari?

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff will be in no rush to lose Lewis Hamilton any time soon.

Even if the car isn’t challenging at the very front of the grid, he’ll recognise he’s got one of the strongest driver line-ups in the paddock right now.

Wolff admitted in an interview with Motorsport.com that he’s not considered any alternatives to Hamilton.

“I don’t want to engage in discussions with other drivers,” Wolff said.

“I’m happy with the ones that are in the team, that’s for sure. At the moment, there is no Plan B. It’s Lewis.

“I think that he would tell us early enough. I don’t think that Lewis would say: ‘I can’t do this anymore. I’m out of here tomorrow’.

“He would always feel the responsibility for the team. He wouldn’t leave the team alone. Drivers can always take decisions [like that], but he wouldn’t let us down.”

Has Lewis Hamilton been close to joining Ferrari before?

Throughout his time in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton’s loyalty to Mercedes has been clear, although the temptation of joining Ferrari has always existed.

The Daily Mail believe that Hamilton’s family have wanted to see him drive for Ferrari for a long time.

Before Hamilton signed his previous multi-year deal with Mercedes in 2019, he refused to deny reports he’d met with Elkann.

Ferrari’s CEO at the time Louis Camilleri later confirmed that a conversation had taken place.

Nothing appears to be particularly concrete right now when it comes to the rumours of Hamilton switching Mercedes for Ferrari.

However, it’s a sign of where the Brackley-based team are that Hamilton hasn’t already committed his future to the Silver Arrows.

An awful lot might depend on the upgrades Mercedes are set to bring to Monte Carlo this weekend.