Mercedes ‘have solutions’ if Lewis Hamilton ‘abandons’ team

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

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff suggests the Silver Arrows “have solutions” if Lewis Hamilton walks away from the team. Hamilton’s F1 future is still uncertain with the seven-time champion yet to put pen to paper on a new agreement.

Hamilton’s F1 future is still uncertain with the seven-time champion yet to put pen to paper on a new agreement.

His current deal is set to run out at the end of the 2023 season with little details on an extension released by either party.

His current deal is set to run out at the end of the 2023 season with little details on an extension released by either party. Wolff is confident Hamilton will give Mercedes enough warning of his departure.

However, he reassured fans that the German manufacturer would be able to secure new talent if Hamilton decided against sticking around. Wolff told Autosport: “I think he will tell us in advance what he wants to do. I don’t think Lewis will come to tell us that he is leaving overnight.

“The drivers of course have the right to make such decisions, but he will not abandon us like that. But at that point, if you think you are a team coveted by others, the right solutions will present themselves.” Back in 2020, Wolff hinted he could be interested in securing the services of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

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Verstappen is unlikely to move as he continues to dominate F1 with Red Bull. However, Leclerc could be more likely to make an exit with the Monegasque having struggled to find success with Ferrari.

Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok also stressed Lando Norris should be Mercedes’ “number one option” if Hamilton quits. Despite this, Wolff has already confirmed he is yet to speak to any replacements as he eyes a new deal with Hamilton.

Wolff added: “Perhaps I sound naive but I find it hard to think of a plan B if Plan A is still my favourite. I don’t want to enter into conversations with other drivers because I’m happy with the ones we have. At the moment, there isn’t a plan B. There’s only Lewis.”

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British F1 champions Jenson Button and Damon Hill have previously suggested Hamilton was waiting to see how competitive the W14 was before he signed a new deal. However, the Silver Arrows have made a difficult start to the new campaign with Hamilton recently claiming the gap to Red Bull is around 1.5s per lap.

Martin Brundle suggested Hamilton would not be afraid to ditch Mercedes with Ferrari his best option. Eddie Jordan appeared to back the move as he revealed a switch to the Prancing Horse is what Formula One needs.

But, Hamilton has appeared to pledge his future to Mercedes as he described the eight-time Constructors’ winners as his “family”. He explained: “I still have 100 per cent belief in this team, it is my family and I’ve been here a long time, so I don’t plan on going anywhere else.

“But we all need a kick, we all need to get on – the proof is in the pudding, we’ve seen where the performance is and how people are extracting the performance, and we’ve got to now start making some bold decisions, some big moves in order to close the gap to these guys.”

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