Last Updated on November 26 2023, 8:53 am

Lewis Hamilton has attempted once again to put to bed rumours of a possible move away from Mercedes, stressing his unwavering commitment to the team amid speculation fuelled by Red Bull management.

It was rumoured that Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s father and long-time manager, had approached Red Bull Racing with the prospect of his son becoming a teammate of world champion Max Verstappen. The very idea sent ripples through the F1 community, suggesting a potential super-team pairing that would see two of the sport’s most formidable competitors join forces under the Red Bull banner. It also suggested that Hamilton had lost faith in his Mercedes team to deliver a winning car after a winless streak of two years.

 

Marko weighs in

This speculation was given further credence when Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko mentioned that there had been contact from Lewis Hamilton’s entourage regarding a seat at Red Bull. This contact was said to have taken place amidst uncertainty over Lewis’s future with Mercedes, with whom he has been associated since his early teens, both in their junior programmes and as a Formula One driver.

The rumour suggested that Hamilton was considering his options and that the Hamilton camp saw an opportunity at Red Bull Racing as a viable alternative. The talks are said to have revolved around the condition that Hamilton would only be interested if he was guaranteed the same equipment and opportunities as Verstappen, ensuring a level playing field within the team.

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Formidable duo?

The prospect of Hamilton joining Red Bull would undoubtedly have sent shockwaves through the sport. The combination of Hamilton’s racing skills and experience with Verstappen’s raw speed and aggression could have created a formidable duo the likes of which F1 has rarely seen.

However, both Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff were quick to quash the rumours. Hamilton himself took to the media to clarify the situation, stating unequivocally that he had not personally approached Red Bull and that he remained committed to Mercedes. He admitted that there had been a message from Red Bull’s team principal Christian Horner, but that it was Horner who had initiated the contact and not the other way around.

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New comments: Hamilton attempts to deflect rumour again

In a definitive statement to Bild am Sonntag, Hamilton laid to rest any doubts about his loyalty, insisting: “These rumours are not true!”

He went on to clarify his interactions with Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Ferrari’s Frédéric Vasseur, claiming that his association with Mercedes, which began when he was just 13, left no room for his loyalty to be questioned.

Recent claims by Horner and Red Bull motorsport consultant Dr Helmut Marko that Hamilton had shown interest in joining the Austrian outfit before re-signing with Mercedes were promptly dismissed by the British driver.

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Hamilton: Horner messaged me on my old phone

Hamilton had explained that it was not he who approached Horner, but Horner who approached him, via a mobile phone message that had not been read for a long time.

“No, I didn’t approach him. Christian (Horner, editor) wrote to me.” claims Hamilton,

“I took out my old cell phone with my old number, which I found at home. I turned it on and logically had hundreds of messages. And then I realized that one of Christian’s questions was whether we wanted to sit down and talk at the end of the season.”

“I answered him from my new cell phone. That was after a weekend. I found the message quite late, it was from earlier this year. So it was months later.”

 

 

 

Leaving Mercedes not an option in their time of struggle

Hamilton also made it clear that leaving Mercedes, especially at a time of struggle, was not an option for him.

“Going to another team just because they have a good car and we’re not winning doesn’t tempt me at all,” he said. Hamilton attempts to give the impression that he prides himself on sticking it out through the tough times and the idea of leaving just because the car isn’t performing is not an option he would consider. Just what happened at McLaren in 2013 obviously doesn’t factor into the 7-time champion’s mind.

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‘Marriage’ to the team

The bond between Hamilton and Mercedes has been likened to a marriage, enduring through both triumphs and challenges he said. Despite a two-year Grand Prix winless streak, Hamilton remains hopeful and confident in the team’s ability to regain the top spot.

“It’s going to take everyone giving their best,” he said, acknowledging the effort required to excel within such a large organisation.

Hamilton is in no hurry to retire, but is focused on returning to the pinnacle of success. While the idea of retiring as world champion is tempting, he is not ready to make that decision just yet.

“You should go when you’re at the top,” Hamilton mused, “but first I want to get back up there. And that might take some time…”

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