After Hamilton’s eighth World Championship title slipped away from him in a very controversial manner at the conclusion of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, it was widely speculated that the Mercedes driver would not return for the 2022 season. After Hamilton’s presence at the launch of the W13 in February, the retirement talk subsided. Nonetheless, when Mercedes’ car proved to be uncompetitive for the 2022 season, the retirement questions resurfaced.
Now, fans came up with a theory that Sergio is the one who is being looked at by Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton. But these theories were put to rest recently by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Toto Wolff clears the air on Sergio Perez’s potential move to Mercedes
Speculation is mounting as to who will be the second driver to join Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton’s future with the team yet to be sealed in a new contract. However, Toto Wolff has dismissed the possibility of Sergio Perez leaving Red Bull to join Mercedes.
Toto Wolff told Motorsport.com Italy :“It’s complete b******. I’ve never called Sergio, he’s a good guy and I respect him, but I’ve never talked to him and haven’t been in contact with any other rider.
“Lewis and I, even in the face of a less encouraging scenario like the start of this (2022) season, we are always aligned in wanting to try to improve things and in wanting to be together next year. And for a couple of months, we have been telling each other that we could go on, maybe five or 10 years, right? So none of this is true.”
Perez is anticipated to depart Red Bull at the conclusion of the 2024 season. However, there is a possibility that he could be removed prior to the expiration of his agreement should his significant performance gap to teammate Max Verstappen not improve after the mid-season break. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s current agreement is set to expire at the end of this season.
How long is Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes?
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been one of the most successful partnerships in Formula One history. They have won seven Drivers’ Championships and eight Constructors’ Championships together, more than any other team in the sport.
Hamilton joined Mercedes in 2013 after six seasons with McLaren. He immediately hit the ground running, winning the Drivers’ Championship in his first season with the team. He has gone on to win the title six more times with Mercedes, including a record-breaking four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020. Hamilton and Mercedes have also been dominant in terms of race wins. They have won 103 races together, more than any other team in Formula One history. Hamilton has won 98 of those races, which is the most by any driver in Formula One history.
That is why, even though Lewis Hamilton’s agreement will finish at the end of 2023, both Hamilton and Mercedes have repeatedly expressed their eagerness to extend the contract. Toto Wolff, the team manager, recently declared that the extension is basically complete. Hamilton wants to get a record-breaking eighth world championship and is willing to stay with Mercedes for a few more years to make that happen.
Who do you think can replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after his departure? And do you think Lewis can win his eighth title in the future? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
