Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari talk continues with massive £80m deal suggested

Introduction

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One World Champion and current driver for Mercedes, has been linked to a potential move to Ferrari at the end of his current contract. The rumors started circulating a few weeks ago, and it was recently reported that Ferrari is preparing an offer worth £40 million to partner Hamilton with Charles Leclerc in 2024. However, former Williams and Ferrari team manager Peter Windsor believes that Hamilton should not even consider the move unless the Scuderia makes an offer worth at least £80 million.

The Report

A report by Mail Sport claimed that Ferrari president John Elkann has been in “close contact” with Hamilton. However, Hamilton denied the rumors and said that an extension to his contract with Mercedes is almost done. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, who oversaw Hamilton’s title-winning GP2 season with the ART Grand Prix operation in 2006, dismissed the report as typical silly season gossip but admitted that “every single team on the grid would like to have Hamilton at one stage.”

The Offer

Windsor feels that Hamilton should not even have a conversation with Ferrari unless F1’s most famous team is willing to pay at least £80 million. Windsor believes that Hamilton’s value lies not only as a driver but also in the significant benefit he can bring to the Ferrari brand.

“If I was Lewis Hamilton, I’d be going for a lot more than £40 million because you could argue that Lewis, with the Ferrari brand and what he could do for the Ferrari brand, should be thinking in terms of at least £50m just for PR and brand turnaround,” said Windsor. “And then how much is he worth as a driver, as a pure race driver? You’d have to say £25-30m. Forty? I would say about 80 would be more logical.”

Risks and Unknowns

Ferrari has not won any World Championship title since 2008 and has won only four races in the last four seasons. Hamilton would be entitled to play hardball in any negotiations with the Prancing Horse as there is no guarantee that he would be in a position to compete for a record-breaking eighth title in a Ferrari. Thus, if Hamilton is going to Ferrari, it is with such a big unknown in terms of how competitive that car would be that if he is wise, he wouldn’t go for less than £80 million.

Long-Term Plans

Windsor believes that if Hamilton stays at Mercedes and looks for some long-term deal at Mercedes and continues, it will be the right thing to do, given that a team that big and that good will eventually find a way to be competitive. Leaving the team just as they are going to be competitive will make no sense.

Conclusion

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula One World Champion and one of the greatest drivers of all time. Hamilton has been linked to a potential move to Ferrari, but Formula 1 commentator Peter Windsor believes that Hamilton should not even consider the move unless the Scuderia make an offer worth at least £80 million. Windsor thinks that Hamilton is worth more than the £40 million that Ferrari reportedly offered him and he should stay at Mercedes and continue with his long-term plan.

FAQs

1. Is Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari?

There are rumors that Lewis Hamilton will be moving to Ferrari at the end of his current contract. However, Hamilton denied the rumors and said that an extension to his contract with Mercedes is almost done.

2. What is the rumored offer from Ferrari to Hamilton?

It was recently reported that Ferrari is preparing an offer worth £40 million to partner Hamilton with Charles Leclerc in 2024.

3. What does Peter Windsor think about the offer?

Peter Windsor thinks that Hamilton should not even consider the offer unless the Scuderia makes an offer worth at least £80 million.

4. What are the risks of Hamilton moving to Ferrari?

Ferrari has not won any World Championship title since 2008 and has won only four races in the last four seasons. Hamilton would be entitled to play hardball in any negotiations with the Prancing Horse as there is no guarantee that he would be in a position to compete for a record-breaking eighth title in a Ferrari.

5. What does Peter Windsor think Hamilton should do?

Windsor believes that Hamilton should stay at Mercedes and look for some long-term deal at Mercedes and continue. Leaving the team just as they are going to be competitive will make no sense.