Lewis Hamilton Shuts Down Ferrari Rumors: Commits to Mercedes for Future Success

Lewis Hamilton, seven-time Formula One champion, has vehemently denied reports suggesting he might be considering a move to Ferrari, a rival team in the Formula One championship. He has expressed his intent to continue his career with Mercedes, with whom he has won six championships since joining in 2013. Reports of a new contract being signed with Mercedes in the forthcoming weeks have been circulating, and Hamilton has confirmed these expectations, stating that negotiations with Mercedes' team principal, Toto Wolff, are close to concluding.

Hamilton was forthright in denying any contact from Ferrari, describing such rumours as mere speculation. He clarified that the recent lacklustre performance of Mercedes over the past two seasons does not affect his decision to stay with the team. He expressed his confidence in the team's ability to bounce back, attributing their recent struggles to having the "wrong car" and making a few suboptimal decisions. He insists that Mercedes remains a championship-winning team.

Despite the recent troubles, Hamilton remains optimistic about his team's future, especially given the upcoming debut of a revamped car that Mercedes has been developing. He sees no significant incentive to switch to Ferrari, which is currently trailing championship leaders Red Bull by a considerable margin. Hamilton has stated his desire to see out his career with Mercedes, even mentioning potential plans for an ambassadorial role post-retirement.

The rumours linking Hamilton to Ferrari were also dismissed by Ferrari's team principal, Frédéric Vasseur, who stated that there have been no discussions or offers made to Hamilton. Ferrari's current driver, Charles Leclerc, was asked about the possibility of Hamilton joining as a teammate. He praised Hamilton's driving skills but expressed contentment with his current teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr.