Ferrari test driver weighs in on Lewis Hamilton rumours after ‘low-ball offer’

Hamilton opens up on plans to remain in F1 ahead of 2023 season

Lewis Hamilton “does not fit the philosophy” of Ferrari and should stay at Mercedes, according to long-time Scuderia test driver Marc Gene. The Spaniard claimed Hamilton and Ferrari would not work well together despite rumours of a potential partnership.

It comes after reports the Italian marque were reportedly preparing a £40million deal to bring the Briton over to Maranello. He told Spanish newspaper Diario Sport: “I am not the one who decides the drivers. But knowing the Scuderia today, it does not fit the philosophy. I see him ending his career at Mercedes.”

The Mail said the Italian marque were preparing a bid ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. They stated the Prancing Horse wanted Hamilton to line up alongside Charles Leclerc but could be prepared to swap the 25-year-old to get an agreement with the Briton over the line.

Hamilton denied the links in Monaco as he continued to pledge his allegiance to the Silver Arrows.

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Sky Sports F1 host Ted Kravitz has also questioned Ferrari’s valuation of the megastar, suggesting the bid would need to be doubled. Kravitz told the Sky Sports F1 podcast: “Firstly I think the £40m offer is a bit of a low-ball offer for Lewis Hamilton.

“It’s probably £5m less than what he’s on at the moment – and is something Mercedes are going to offer as part of not only the remainder of his driving career but also a longer-term association with the Mercedes brand which is valuable to Lewis.

He added: “They are after the best and the biggest in Formula One at the moment as they seek to rebuild so it shouldn’t be a surprise if they offer Lewis Hamilton everything. If it was £80m that John Elkann had said then that would get people’s attention.”

Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur revealed the team had not been in touch with Hamilton’s representatives last weekend.

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff also quashed the rumours, revealing that a new deal with Hamilton was very close to being finalised. The 38-year-old even confirmed an announcement would be made in the “coming weeks”.

F1 analyst Peter Windsor has also claimed Ferrari’s offer was way too low to secure Hamilton’s services. He explained: “If I was Lewis Hamilton, I’d be going for a lot more than £40m 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.

“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.”

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