Will Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes in search of an eighth world title?

JONATHAN McEVOY: Will Lewis Hamilton leave Mercedes in search of an elusive eighth world title? He insists he wants to sign an extension, but his McLaren exit shows he’s not afraid to make tough decisions for the good of his career

  • Lewis Hamilton finished fifth in Bahrain Grand Prix amid Mercedes’ car struggles
  • Hamilton is looking for a record-breaking eighth Formula One world title 
  • The 38-year-old’s contract is up at the end of this season 

Lewis Hamilton cut a relaxed figure after what was for Mercedes a shambolic Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite being condemned to finish fifth, he smiled through his media interviews and exchanged warm words with Fernando Alonso.

Fine for now, but for how much longer?

While Mercedes’ current form – or lack of it, as the fourth best team on the grid and committed to the tortuous task of redesigning their car – is only a major irritant today, it may grow into a terminal complaint as the season goes on and Hamilton wonders with ever-increasing concern, aged 38, if and when he might win the eighth world championship that would represent the final flick of paint on what he has called his ‘masterpiece’.

And it may become a case not only of ‘if’ and ‘when’, but of ‘where’?

In other words, will he feel a pull to leave Mercedes and finish his career in pursuit of his one remaining racing dream at a team better equipped to power him to the elusive octuplet?

Lewis Hamilton finished fifth in the season-opener Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend

We must not get ahead of ourselves, but nor should we entirely discount the possibility of a move. The first reason for believing he might transfer his skills is rooted in the story of his career. I well remember McLaren’s certainty in 2012 that he would re-sign for them. Many observers agreed, asking why he would cast himself off to Mercedes, then unproven and unsuccessful, rather than stick with a powerhouse team of pedigree.

He rightly deduced that the veneer of McLaren’s superiority was wearing thin to the point of illusion. They had or were to lose main sponsor Vodafone and engine suppliers Mercedes. Ron Dennis had handed over day-to-day responsibility for the running of the team to Martin Whitmarsh. And McLaren were still reeling, and arguably still are, from the imposition of a $100million fine in the Spygate scandal of 2007, Lewis’s debut season.

From the Mercedes side, he was sold the vision of a brighter shore by Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda, and so joined them in well-founded hope. Six more world titles was his reward.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insisted that their dip in form will not drive their star man away, saying: ‘He is an integral part of the team and in picking the team up. We are sticking together. That’s not going to change. We have won seven constructors’ championships with him, six drivers’ championships. The relationship is holding. We just need to dig deeper than ever and provide both drivers with a car to fight with. They are doing everything they can.’ 

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff (left) is hopeful that Hamilton will sign a new contract

Asked about Plan B if Lewis were to go, Wolff said: ‘No point talking about the driver situation for 2024. We all have to push in the same direction, the drivers, engineers and management, rather than throwing in the towel.’ But what if Mercedes are not the super team they once were, having haemorrhaged key personnel. What if Aston Martin are potentially in contention in the next few races and years? What if the chance of checking off, as he checked in, by going up against Alonso in the same machinery is too tempting to resist?

What if Wolff cannot rebuild as astutely as he could brilliantly sustain the success of a team he took over as a boil-in-the-bag certainty from Brawn? Mercedes are also hemmed in by the budget cap, a ceiling of some £110m that calls for a different approach from their break-the-bank modus operandi of the past decade.

Yes, I know Lewis has rhapsodised his affiliation with Mercedes and says he wants to sign an extension on his £40m-a-year contract that expires at the end of the season. I would say 55-45, he will honour that expressed intention.

But if he feels he needs to move on, who could blame him? It is his choice and his career.

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