Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One champion on Thursday, clarified that he has not but obtained any proposals from Ferrari, expressing optimism that an settlement for a contract extension with Mercedes will likely be reached “in the upcoming weeks.”
The 38-year-old is in a contract 12 months with Mercedes and up to date stories have linked Hamilton to a transfer to Ferrari. But the British driver mentioned on the Monaco Grand Prix that there have been no talks with Ferrari and his private crew is negotiating with Mercedes crew principal Toto Wolff.
“Naturally, in contract negotiations, there’s always going to be speculation,” Hamilton mentioned. “My team’s working closely behind the scenes with Toto. We’re almost at the end of having a contract ready.”
Hamilton, the F1 record-holder with 103 grand prix wins and 103 pole positions, was requested when he anticipated a contract to be signed.
“That’s what we’re working towards, so hopefully in the coming weeks,” he mentioned. “I’ve got a great team in the background doing all the work.”
Hamilton added he’s relieved he now not does his negotiating.
“Having the team focus on that so I can just do my job, that’s a much better position than I was in before,” he mentioned. “Because I remember I used to do my negotiations on my own, which was very stressful.”
Hamilton didn’t win a race final 12 months for the primary time in his profession, courting to 2007. He has not gained but this season, both. But he nonetheless believes Mercedes can flip issues round and insists the current efficiency isn’t weighing on his resolution to stick with the crew.
“It doesn’t have a bearing, I think, because we’re still a championship-winning team,” he mentioned. “It’s just we’ve had the wrong car. There have been some decisions that have been made over the past two years that have not been ideal, and we’re working our way through that.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari crew principal Frederic Vasseur dismissed rumors of getting approached Hamilton concerning a possible transfer to his crew subsequent 12 months.
“You know perfectly that, at this stage of the season, you will have each week a different story. And we are not sending an offer to Lewis Hamilton. So we didn’t do it,” the Frenchman mentioned. “We didn’t have discussions.”
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who’s teammates with Carlos Sainz Jr., was requested if he’d like Hamilton as a teammate.
“If I say, ‘Yes,’ I imagine it will be the title of every newspaper,” Leclerc mentioned. “Lewis is such an unimaginable driver and has achieved a lot within the sport, so I feel anyone on the grid would like to have Lewis as a teammate, as all people would be taught quite a bit from him.
“I’m happy where I am and (with) Carlos; it’s a great relationship.”
Leclerc, who’s signed with Ferrari by way of the tip of this season, mentioned he’s not began talks on a brand new deal but.
“No talks on renewal now,” he mentioned. “Still a lot of time.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
