Hamilton urged to quit Mercedes
FORMER F1 team boss Eddie Jordan has encouraged Lewis Hamilton to test himself against Max Verstappen by quitting Mercedes to join Red Bull. The out-spoken former owner also urged Toto Wolff to walk away from the Silver Arrows.
Mercedes have won the Championship double for each of the last six seasons and they are on course to continue that dominance this year.
Hamilton is set to equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven world titles as he leads teammate Valtteri Bottas by 55 points. However, the Brit’s contract is set to expire at the end
of the season and he has yet to pen an extension.
Talks are ongoing behind the scenes but Jordan would like to see Hamilton take on a new challenge – although Red Bull’s No. 1 driver Max Verstappen may not take too kindly to this plan.
The pair have come to blows in recent year and Hamilton was not to fond of his teammate Nico Rosberg when he got the better of him in 2016.
“I personally believe that Lewis should go to Red Bull and not to Ferrari because the best young driver of all of Formula 1 at the moment is Max Verstappen,” Jordan told Dutch TV channel Ziggo Sport.
“His style, his speed, his intellect, his control on the track. Also his arrogance. And grand prix winners and grand prix champions need a level of arrogance.
“And what I believe is if he had a teammate like Lewis Hamilton, then I do believe he would be able to beat him.”
Jordan’s prediction that Red Bull will bring their glory years back has led him to think that Wolff should also leave Mercedes while they are on top.
He added: “I’m sure he’s getting tired of the situation. He’s won all of these championships and he’s created a myth around Lewis Hamilton and indeed the team.
“In life, you’ve got to remember that there is a very good time to get out and there’s a very bad time to get out. And a very good time is now for Toto.” – Express Newspapers