Ferrari are set to offer Lewis Hamilton £40million in a bid to entice him into the unthinkable move from Mercedes, reports have claimed. The Italian team are said to be working on a deal for the 38-year-old behind the scenes as they seek to hand Hamilton the chance to win his eighth world title.
It means the seven-time world champion could get the chance to eclipse his hero Michael Schumacher – a Scuderia icon -in the famous red car.
The Daily Mail are reporting that Ferrari president is in dialogue with Hamilton and that the pair are maintaining close contact.
It’s an indication that there is scope to try and complete a deal, which is still deemed unrealistic by some in F1 circles due to Hamilton’s loyalty to Mercedes.
Nonetheless, Hamilton’s current Mercedes deal expires at the end of the year and with the Silver Arrows struggling to match their superstar driver’s ambition, Ferrari’s interest could carry weight.
The 38-year-old remains very much committed to Mercedes, who he does not currently intend to leave.
Should Ferrari somehow be able to entice Hamilton into the move, they would be faced with plenty of food for thought.
Ideally, Hamilton would be coming in to partner Charles Leclerc and to form an iconic partnership.
Yet given the Italians would need to make some financial sacrifices to muster an agreement, there is also suggestion Leclerc could possibly make way.
If he was to say, Ferrari would have to offload Carlos Sainz – a sacrifice they seem prepared to make.
The report references that money is unlikely to prove decisive when it comes to Hamilton’s future.
Ultimately, he will be guaranteed huge money wherever he is driving next season but Ferrari’s interest could help him land a significant pay rise should he re-enter contract negotiations with Mercedes.
It’s also claimed that the Hamilton family have had a nagging ambition to see the Mercedes poster boy drive for Ferrari before his retirement.
With Max Verstappen seemingly set to enjoy an extended period of dominance, Hamilton could be forgiven for contemplating a change of scenery.
Ex-Ferrari and Williams team manager Pete Windsor is confident Toto Wolff would allow him to make the move should Hamilton outline his desire to quit the Siver Arrows, however it may hurt.
He said: “If the Mercedes is not a great car and Lewis doesn’t win a race. Maybe George Russell doesn’t win a race and if he’s got another year on his contract…
“If [Hamilton] said to Toto Wolff: ‘Toto, I’ve given you everything, I’ve now had two years of a bad car, I’ve got a mega offer from Ferrari and I want to take it’.
“‘Will you look into my eyes and shake my hand and we’ll call it quits?’
“I think Toto would do that. “I don’t think he would say: ‘No, you’ve got a contract. You must drive for us’.
“I think Lewis would just say: ‘OK, well, I’m stopping in that case’.”
