Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said he will allow Lewis Hamilton to quit their team if they fail to provide him with a car that can win championship titles.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff have been trying to negotiate a new deal. The British racing legend will have his contract expire this summer. While they failed to agree on any terms yet, both have confirmed they want to extend the partnership.
But for the first time, Wolff gave a hint that Lewis could be forced to go somewhere else if wants to chase another world title.
What did Toto say about Lewis Hamilton potentially leaving?
Totto said, “I don’t think that Lewis will leave Mercedes.”
“He’s at the stage of a career where we trust each other, we have formed a great bond among each other and we have no reason to doubt each other, even though this is a difficult spell.”
Toto Wolff on Hamilton's future with Mercedes š
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) March 18, 2023
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He said he will have no hard feelings if Lewis does leave Mercedes, “As a driver, nevertheless, if he wants to win another championship, he needs to make sure that he has the car. And if we cannot demonstrate that we’re able to give him a car in the next couple of years, then he needs to look everywhere. I don’t think he’s doing it at that stage, but I will have no grouch if that happens in a year or two.”
While Mercedes and Hamilton continue to struggle, rumors persist of a potential move to rivals Ferrari or Red Bull. He did admit to wanting to drive for Ferrari in the past.
In an interview with Sky Sports Italia, “For many years, when I came to Monza, walking next to the fansā¦ I could hear them saying ‘Come to Ferrari! This warmed my heart, but it’s pretty amazing that I’ve never driven for Ferrari in so many years. Because it is a dream for anyone, a goal to be achieved.”
The main rumor is that Hamilton could be swapped with Ferrari star boy Charles Leclerc. Charles had an emergency meeting called with Ferrari’s president John Elkann. This came after a poor Bahrain campaign.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Friday’s practice saw Hamilton finishing at P6 and Leclerc at P9.
Currently, Hamilton boasts seven F1 championships. He is looking to win his eighth to become the F1 driver with the most championships, surpassing legend Michael Schumacher.
What do you think bout a potential split between Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton? Let us know in the comments down below!
