Lewis Hamilton has commented on his contract situation with Mercedes after a disappointing sixth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Briton, whose contract with Mercedes runs until the end of the 2023 season, has been rumored to move to a rival due to the Silver Arrows’ struggles.
The rumors have arisen because after Hamilton dominated the turbo hybrid era from 2014 to 2021 by winning six of his seven world championships with the team, he has not been able to pose a challenge for the title ever since. However, despite these ongoing rumours, Hamilton has again reiterated his commitment to staying with the team.
Speaking of his contract situation, the 38-year-old said (as quoted by F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli), “I’m thinking long term. I don’t want to stay here for another year. I want to stay longer”.
Lewis Hamilton replies to rumors claiming Charles Leclerc could replace him
Among the many rumors, one of them that has recently attracted widespread speculation is about the future of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Both drivers are believed to have been frustrated with their respective teams after a poor start to their seasons.
When asked if these rumors had any effect on his future, Hamilton replied (as quoted by Sky Sports F1), “I like where I am. I love my team, and I’m grateful for the journey we’ve been on and what we’re working on moving forwards”.
Leclerc also gave a similar reply as he explained how he was extremely happy at Ferrari. He then went on to answer the rumors directly by making it clear that he did not have any talks with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff despite all the widespread rumors.
Hamilton and Leclerc have had disappointing starts to their 2023 campaigns
Considering Red Bull’s dominance in the 2023 season so far, it is fair to say that none of the Milton Keynes outfit’s rivals have had a good start. Red Bull has won all four races of the 2023 season so far, with the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, and others more often than not fighting for the final podium spot.
When it comes to the drivers, Lewis Hamilton finds himself in fourth in the championship with 48 points. While he is 20 points clear of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, he is already a whopping 45 points behind championship leader Max Verstappen.
On the other hand, Charles Leclerc’s start to the new season has been nothing short of a disaster. Prior to his fantastic third-place finish in the recently concluded race in Baku, he had just scored six points after the first three races.
However, thanks to his podium finish at the Azerbaijan GP, he has increased his points tally to 28 and now is just six points behind Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz. Following a poor start to the new season for both Hamilton and Leclerc, both will hope that their respective teams can find ways to improve their pace to fight with the Red Bulls.
