Lewis Hamilton on Ferrari and why he has no desire to leave Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton has admitted that linking Ferrari remains a possible solution for him in the long run but isn’t sure whether the movement is part of his F1″game plan” – with the Mercedes driver stating that”loyalty is key”.
While Hamilton has made no secret of his admiration for Ferrari although Hamilton is signed up at Mercedes a between the five-time world champion along with the game’s most prestigious group has long been mooted.
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Mercedes also revealed this past year, that the prospect of Hamilton driving for Ferrari was discussed during their contract talks.
Upon coming at Monza, the Scuderia’s famous house F1 monitor, Hamilton said he still receives messages by Ferrari fans asking him to join, but was non-committal over his future when requested by Sky F1 if the switch”tempts” him.
“I don’t know whether it’s all about being tempted, it’s about whether or not it’s a part of the game plan,” answered Hamilton, who then explained how significant”background” and”devotion” would be to him at Mercedes, who he included in 2013.
“I was only asked the question:’How do you feel if you ended your career without being Ferrari?’ . And frankly when you’re a part of Mercedes you are part of a household for a lifetime – providing you stay with them.
“If you look at Stirling Moss, then you have got Juan Manuel Fangio who’s still honoured inside the household. You’re a part of the history and they care for you for the remainder of your life.
“That is important to me, loyalty is a very key part.
“But if there’s a point in my life where I decide I wish to modify, then [Ferrari] possibly could be an option.”
Hamilton added to colleagues that Ferrari are now settled together using”two excellent drivers” at Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, who he’s been impressed with his rookie season.
“They’ve got two great drivers there now,” explained Hamilton. “I am sure they are contented with their new young star that they’ve got coming up and I am quite excited to see how he evolves”
Hamilton is the favourite to claim that the sixth in 2019 holding a 65-point lead with eight races and has won four of the five titles with Mercedes.
Ferrari sealed their first success of the season last weekend in Belgium but return to their residence Italian GP under stress.
The team haven’t won at Monza – by Mercedes winning the last five races – while their past drivers’ and constructors’ titles arrived in 2008 and 2007 respectively.
Hamilton considers that bare run is just one of the reasons fans have been calling for his signature.
“They’ve not had a championship obviously since 2007 so there is that longing that all fans have of seeing their favourite team succeed,” he said.
“I’m convinced they are just relating it to the fact that I’ve won the championship the last few years.”
Ferrari’s ardent supporters, the Tifosi, will soon be out in force again this weekend though Hamilton has been booed on the podium earlier, he believes the connection is improving.
“I think it’s grown a good deal through the years but it takes a long time to shift awareness,” he explained.
“We come here and also you stand together with the podium and 90 per cent plus are all Ferrari fans. Frequently we’ve come here and I have made the weekend maybe not so good for Ferrari fans by having Mercedes at the top step.
“But I love and honor them a massive amount and, in actual fact, once I come here a lot of Ferrari fans really ask me to visit Ferrari. And I get a lot of Ferrari fans who say,’I’m a Ferrari fan but I admire you’.
“I think that it’s growing slowly, bit by little bit. However, it would not ever be the same as if I was driving to get a Ferrari team.”
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