Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff reveals that Lewis Hamilton told him he never held any contract discussions with Ferrari despite meeting the marque’s president.
Hamilton’s contractual situation dominated the off-track headlines during the early stages of 2023, with his previous deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
Mercedes’ failure to deliver a title-contending car once again this season caused speculation to surface that Hamilton might elect to depart for pastures new elsewhere.
The most common rumour linked the Briton with Ferrari, who subsequently downplayed reports that a deal had been agreed.
Eventually, it was announced ahead of last month’s Italian Grand Prix that Hamilton had penned a two-year extension to remain with Mercedes alongside George Russell.
Wolff explains that Hamilton had informed him he had met Ferrari president John Elkann but declared that he was not interested in a move away and wanted to remain with the Brackley-based squad.
“There was a bit of a delay, but it was clear that it would end like this, with Lewis staying with us,” Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Some time ago Lewis told me ‘I saw John Elkann at dinner but know that I’m not going anywhere’. And then when they wrote about his conversation with Ferrari, he said again ‘Toto, I’m not carrying out any negotiations’.
“There was never an inch of doubt in my mind. And then we also have George for another two seasons, who is the future of this team and the next generation after Hamilton, who grew up in Mercedes.
Wolff concluded: “We are happy.
Mercedes is currently embroiled in a tight battle with Ferrari for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. The ex-title rivals are separated by just 28 points with only five rounds remaining in 2023.
The Silver Arrows marginally extended its advantage last time out in Qatar but failed to capitalise on its pace advantage over Ferrari as its two cars came to blows at Turn 1.
Hamilton, who was sizing up a move for the race lead, was sent spinning into the gravel and out of the race, while Russell was made to pit at the end of that lap to replace his damaged front wing, dropping him to last.
The sole remaining Mercedes in the 57-lap race would eventually utilise a bold four-stop strategy to recover to fourth, beating out the only running Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari had struggled for speed throughout the weekend at the Lusail International Circuit and only ran with one car in the race amid Carlos Sainz’s car suffering a fuel-system issue before the cars went to the grid.
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