HAMILTON STAYS PUT TO TRIGGER DRIVER-MARKET JOCKEYING
FORMULA 1
Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new deal to remain with Mercedes was announced ahead of last weekend’s German Grand Prix, and will trigger a cascade effect in the Formula 1 driver market.
Hamilton’s contract will keep him at the team for another two seasons, which is consistent with his previous comments about wanting to get a feel for F1’s next new-rules era in 2021. It has been widely reported to be worth a potential £40million, although around a quarter of the total figure is understood to be bonus-dependent.
The deal had long been expected to be completed, but delays to a contract that Hamilton suggested pre-season could be sorted before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix led to speculation that he could be considering his F1 future. But Hamilton stressed it was down to detail, and that the deal was effectively complete several months ago.
“I just decided to take my time with a lot of things,” said Hamilton. “When you’ve got to think about such a big decision, it’s not something you can do over a couple of weeks. I can’t remember the actual date [when the deal was effectively done]. It might have been before or after Monaco. Then there were small bits here and there that we’d discuss. Then we wouldn’t revisit for another few weeks, so we just took our time.”
Hamilton confirmed that he did receive an approach from another top team, but that he “didn’t give it any air”.
Mercedes also confirmed that Valtteri Bottas will remain with the team in 2019 after he signed a new ‘one-plus-one’ deal, with the first year locked in and the second an option. It’s widely expected that Daniel Ricciardo will commit to a new two-year deal with Red Bull, having chased a possible move to
Ferrari or Mercedes.
But there is a curveball that could delay that and have an impact on the driver market. This is the change in Ferrari’s leadership, with CEO and chairman Sergio Marchionne unable to return to work for health reasons. He has been replaced as Ferrari CEO by Louis Carey Camilleri, with John Elkann taking over as chairman.
Marchionne is understood to have been behind the move for Ferrari to drop Kimi Raikkonen for Charles Leclerc for 2019, a move that was not set in stone but increasingly sure to happen. It’s not yet clear what impact that will have, but the change in leadership could lead to a reprieve for Raikkonen. Alternatively, it’s not impossible that it could open the door for renewed interest in Ricciardo.
Many of the deals in midfield teams will be delayed while this is resolved. Raikkonen had emerged as a potential driver for Alfa Romeo-branded Sauber, where Ferrari has the ability to place a driver. Were Leclerc to move to the works team, this could either be Raikkonen or test driver Antonio Giovinazzi. But the Italian risks being seen as too valuable an asset to Ferrari as a test and simulator driver to move into a full-time race seat.
Sauber is an increasingly attractive proposition for drivers, and with question marks over Marcus Ericsson’s future there are multiple drivers who have a possible interest in a move there, including Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Sainz’s position is perhaps the most unstable. Currently on loan to Renault and under contract to Red Bull, he’s waiting on Ricciardo’s deal being completed. If that is done, he is free to sign a new contract elsewhere, although Red Bull is keen to keep him on its books.
With Renault understood to be very interested in signing Esteban Ocon – subject to Mercedes and Force India allowing it – to partner Nico Hulkenberg, it’s possible that Sainz could be frozen out at Renault even if Ricciardo re-signs. Sainz has also emerged as a serious contender for Mclaren, but if none of the alternatives come off he may have no choice but to return to Toro Rosso. This would solve Red Bull’s question of who to replace Brendon Hartley with, given Dan Ticktum cannot gain enough superlicence points under the current rules to race in 2019.
Williams driver Lance Stroll is also known to be in talks with Force India about a possible move, one that could potentially take Robert Kubica across as team-mate. As part of that the team could build ever-closer ties with engine supplier Mercedes, potentially to the extent of moving closer to the Haas model of taking components from a partner team. But this is just one of a number of possible outcomes for Force India given that the team’s ownership is uncertain.
Mercedes is also looking for a berth for protege George Russell, currently leading the F2 standings, with both Force India and Williams possible destinations. Perez, who has held talks with Williams before, could also be a potential contender, although he would also be a good fit for Haas should a seat become available.
With so many possibilities, the midfield driver merry-go-round is set to be particularly frenetic this year. Much can and will change over the coming months.
“CHANGE IN FERRARI LEADERSHIP COULD LEAD TO A REPRIEVE FOR RAIKKONEN”