HAMILTON: WOLFF HAS BEEN APPROACHED BY TOP DRIVER OVER 2021 F1 SEAT
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says his rivals want to join Mercedes and that a top-line driver is among those calling team boss Toto Wolff about a move.
The six-time title winner is out of contract after next season, as are Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, existing Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel and
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
At the FIA’S end-of-season awards, Hamilton said the 2021 driver market was already throwing up intrigue, and that another driver present on Friday evening had been chasing Mercedes chief Wolff about a drive.
Verstappen, linked with a Mercedes 2021 move earlier this year, was on stage shortly before Hamilton was speaking.
Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso, who has made clear his interest in a potential F1 return in 2021, was also present as one of Toyota’s World Endurance champions.
“It’s an interesting time because there’s a lot of drivers who are seeking positions everywhere,” said Hamilton. “I’m talking about the calls Toto gets from every driver, including the one who was up here just recently, asking to come.
“Everyone is trying to leave their team to come to where we are – which is an understandable thing because everyone wants to win, they all want to be a part of a winning formula.”
Hamilton has said before that staying with Mercedes, which has run him to five titles in six years, is his priority for 2021.
However, he reiterated that he has “not really put a lot of energy” towards making a decision, having previously admitted he was not looking forward to more contract negotiations.
“I love where I am and I love the people that I work with,” said Hamilton. “So it’s really difficult to walk away from something you love as much as I do.
“I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13 so it’s really hard to imagine myself anywhere else.”
Despite that, Wolff has estimated there is a 25% chance that Hamilton will join Ferrari for 2021.
“I think from the rational [side], everything speaks for continuation of the relationship, from both sides,” he said. “But equally, there is a 25% chance that we are not in control of, so we’ll see how the next months pan out.”