English business magnate Bernie Ecclestone, the former boss of Formula 1, and Eddie Jordan, Irish businessman, television personality and former motorsport team owner, have expressed contrasting views on seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton’s future in the sport after the recent rumours that have been highly discussed in the last few days.
Reports suggest that Scuderia Ferrari has prepared a £40m deal in an attempt to lure the British driver away from Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton’s current agreement with the German side is available only until the end of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign and negotiations for a contract extension have yet to yield any significant progress.
However, Bernie Ecclestone, the former CEO of Formula 1, remains skeptical that the seven-time world champion will seriously consider the offer from the Maranello team. In an interview with the Press Association, the 92-year-old cast doubt on the possibility of the Italian team parting ways with Charles Leclerc only to sign Lewis Hamilton:
“I would be surprised that Ferrari would want to get rid of Leclerc to sign Lewis because they are very much in love with Leclerc. Lewis has said that when he does decide to stop he would still want to be connected with Mercedes so it would surprise me if he wanted to leave. And if I was Lewis and I saw that Leclerc is happy to leave Ferrari, I would think there has to be a problem there. I also don’t know why Lewis would think he would be better off at Ferrari than where he is at the moment. He knows everything well and truly at Mercedes. They know him, and they have a lot of respect for him so he couldn’t be better looked after anywhere.” – Bernie Ecclestone explained for the Press Association.
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However Eddie Jordan has a different opinion on this matter and questions his Formula 1 future. The 75 year-old feels Mercedes should hold on to Lewis Hamilton as they need him more than the seven-time Formula 1 world champion actually needs the German. At the same time, Eddie Jordan pointed out that Formula 1 would only stand to gain from Lewis Hamilton joining Scuderia Ferrari.
“Formula 1 needs Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari and Ferrari needs Lewis Hamilton,” the former racing driver and team owner, current Channel 4 F1 analyst and entrepreneur said for OLBG. “Hamilton should look to go to another Championship-winning team, but the drama is who is going to move aside? Red Bull would not let Sergio Perez go for Hamilton because they try to encourage drivers who have been through their teams to try and reach the top like Max Verstappen did. Hamilton is a McLaren man, but I can’t see him going back there because of the position they’re in.” – he added.
“The only other places I see Hamilton going is Ferrari or staying at Mercedes. At the moment, there’s no contract signed and Toto Wolff said if he was Hamilton he would consider leaving. What would I be thinking if I was Hamilton – am I really loved here? What is actually happening at Mercedes? I’m not in the thick of things like I used to be. I don’t know Toto Wolff‘s point of view on the situation but I believe when he says he wants Hamilton to stay. But Mercedes is not good enough for Hamilton.” – Eddie Jordan concluded.
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