Hamilton leaving Mercedes for McLaren? (3rd Update)
10/10/14
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| Is it Ecclestone behind the moves in F1 of the top-3 drivers, Vettel to Ferrari, Hamilton to McLaren and Alonso to Mercedes? |
(GMM) F1's top three drivers are all now caught up in the most intriguing 'silly season' for some time.
As the Suzuka paddock was packed up mere days ago, it seemed almost certain that Sebastian Vettel is headed to Ferrari next year to replace the McLaren-bound Fernando Alonso.
But then a third top driver entered the speculative games: Lewis Hamilton.
Rumors suggest Ron Dennis' former protege recently visited Woking, where a deal to vacate his seat at Mercedes may have been discussed or struck.
McLaren denies it.
"As stated by Ron Dennis at Suzuka, McLaren has not entered into contracts with any driver for 2015," a spokesman is quoted as having told the Italian press on Thursday.
The obvious speculation, however, is that if Hamilton did return to McLaren, it would open the door for Alonso to join F1's dominant team, Mercedes.
"It's an interesting time in formula one," Hamilton agreed at Sochi on Thursday.
"Drivers making changes, top drivers making changes, a lot of fiction, a lot of silly stories going around.
"Whoever is starting those silly conversations, I always have made it clear I'm here (at Mercedes) to do a job.
"I've been with Mercedes since I was 13, so I feel pretty relaxed. But I'm also aware of what goes on in the business and I'm aware that people are trying to intervene."
Indeed, the situation at present is fascinating. No one knows definitively what color overalls Hamilton, Alonso or reigning world champion Vettel will be wearing in just a couple of months' time.
Felipe Massa, Alonso's former Ferrari teammate, teased the Spaniard at Suzuka a week ago when he broke into a media interview to ask Alonso: "You're going to Marussia? Caterham?"
The Brazilian has since said it is obvious Alonso is coveting a Mercedes seat.
Alonso is saying little, except on Thursday at Sochi: "It's all going according to plan. I'm relaxed but all I'm thinking about now is Jules Bianchi."
10/08/14 While Mercedes has an advantage this year and you would not expect Hamilton to leave such a superior car, let's try to apply some logic to this rumor. Hamilton won't want another season with Nico Rosberg. We can see the Senna-like appeal of McLaren Honda for him. Ron Dennis will have told him "we treated you much better than Mercedes, favored you over Alonso, and we'll pay you more than Mercedes is willing to pay you (with Honda money). He can afford a building year way more than Alonso.
Alonso to Mercedes makes a lot of sense too. And the money Hamilton wanted was probably Vettel level crazy and Mercedes wouldn't give him that much more than Nico. The Vettel super contract $$$ would get Hamilton's attention as he won't think he is worth 1/3 of Vettel's contract. They can give big dollars to Alonso because Santander will likely follow Alonso. Santander pays for much of the deal and Mercedes adds a mega driver and a mega sponsor. All makes a lot of sense.
10/08/14 F1Today.net reporting that Lewis Hamilton had already signed a contract with McLaren.
"Lewis was in the Woking factory three weeks ago," they quoted a source as saying. "He arrived by helicopter, had a conversation about two hours with the management and then left with a big smile on his face. He signed here, I can assure you. A seat fitting has not happened yet, but that will take place in the foreseeable future."
McLaren, though, have rejected the claims, with a spokesperson telling Pitpass.com: "This report is utterly without foundation."