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UK newspapers Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph are reporting tonight that Lewis Hamilton will be confirmed on Friday as a Mercedes driver from 2013.
In conjunction with that will come news of Michael Schumacher leaving the team – but whether that is for retirement or a swansong elsewhere remains to be seen.
The move will reunite Hamilton with his former karting team mate and F3 rival Nico Rosberg.
The Daily Mail says that he will have a deal worth £15m a year, with bonuses on top. And as has been widely discussed, he will have more freedom to earn from personal sponsorship deals.
While many have been sceptical in recent weeks, a move to Mercedes always seemed like a worthwhile choice for Hamilton – if a little risky.
Although the team’s results this year have been disappointing since the win in China, the potential of the outfit remains huge. Under Ross Brawn’s guidance the stellar technical team of Bob Bell, Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis came together too late to have a proper impact in this season, but it should pay dividends next year, and especially as F1 makes the transition to the turbo era in 2014. Hamilton is undoubtedly convinced that, working with Brawn, he can make the difference.
For Mercedes hiring Hamilton is a massive PR coup and also relieves the pressure on the team from the Stuttgart board, who now have one of the very best drivers on the grid, and some good motivation to sign the new Concorde and stay in the sport.
As noted it’s not entirely clear whether Schumacher’s second retirement will be confirmed. If it is, the question will be whether he jumped or was pushed. He recently attended the young driver test at Magny-Cours, which was not the action of someone coasting towards retirement.
However his Singapore crash, which received widespread criticism, could not have been more poorly timed.
Schumacher is believed to have a contract that pays him a huge sum to stay on in an ambassadorial role should he stop driving, but he didn’t enjoy a similar experience with Ferrari, and he could yet be hungry for more.
McLaren is now looking for a replacement, with Sergio Perez and Force India drivers Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg among the obvious candidates. A seven-times World Champion is also available…
Hrm....it's interesting to think of the team dynamics between Hamilton and Rosberg. Would Rosberg play 2nd fiddle to a confirmed WDC....again? Or will he use it to try and push himself to be better (a la 2012 so far).
If this is to be true, then Mercedes are hoping that Hamilton can really LEAD the team on all fronts, which requires a bit of maturing (i.e. no bad-mouthing the team. during the race. on the radio. ever). A strong driver pairing participating in car development could at least take Mercedes to a solid 4th in the face of rising Lotus and Sauber (and possibly Force India and Williams if they can get the car and drivers faster, respectively), and perhaps catch a sleeping Horse, Bull, or...um...Swoop, off-guard.
All in all, I want to see Hamilton taken out of his comfort zone and thrown into a different regime. He'll learn quite a bit, and he can emulate his idol, Senna, by proving he can make any machine fly (not Mark Webber fly, but, race fast).
As for Hamilton's replacement....Schumi would be interesting, but unproductive for the competitive pace of Mclaren. I would say Paul DiResta for the British connection. Also, he's a young guy that can go pretty fast. Coupled with the methodical Button as mentor, could make DiResta a consistent winner.
I hope Perez stays with Sauber until he gets a win or two. Then, a transfer to Ferrari would be ideal.
RB7ate9 wrote:Hrm....it's interesting to think of the team dynamics between Hamilton and Rosberg. Would Rosberg play 2nd fiddle to a confirmed WDC....again? Or will he use it to try and push himself to be better (a la 2012 so far).
I personally don't think Rosberg has performed too well relative to Mickey the Shoe in 2012, but that's a different matter. I don't think Hamilton will ask for any preferential treatment - I personally think Hamilton thinks he is better than Rosberg, and doesn't need any preferential treatment. I'm not sure how they fared in karting as teammates. Does anyone know?
If this is to be true, then Mercedes are hoping that Hamilton can really LEAD the team on all fronts
Are they? Or are they hoping for a driver? My point being - Hamilton in my view can win in a car that isn't the best. Maybe they're hoping for that rather than a team leader.
I would say Paul DiResta for the British connection.
I hear he was the primary backup plan, but apparently McLaren are not keen on his work ethic - apparently Force India mechanics don't like him because he's hard to work with.
I would really want to know which telecomunications sponsor will remain in McLaren, Telmex has been the enterprise responsible of Perez carreer...is vodafone leaving to Merch with Lewis?
Hamilton switch away from Mclaren to the Silver Arrow (Merc). Thats the biggest news from this kid yet!
I'm really glad that he has taken steps to take up the challenge of bringing Mercedes to the winning circle. He definitely has the talent of wrestling a car to max to make it fast.
I believe the best of Lewis Hamilton is yet to come. Why? Changing the work environment means you're no longer in a comfort zone. You'll either crack under pressure or excel. I believe he will excel.
See Alonso as example, he used to complaint a lot about team not giving him everything he wants. Now, he is using that skills (complaining) on opponents. haha...
raymondu999 wrote:Rookie runner up; second year champion, 5th in year 3, and a move to Brackley. Sounds familiar lol
Yeah...some guy called Jacques. Although I do feel Ham is a fair bit better than Villeneuve.
This is such a blow! I cant believe they force retirement again. If the Macca seat is taken by Perez (would Ferrari allow this?) and Massa signs again, MSwont race. Sad, sad day.
I would've liked to see 1 more season from him...
Senior manager from TelMex hinted about the switch, as well as very informed Mexican journalist.
News confirmed in Twitter by Adam Cooper and Ian Parks (Reuters), BBC (Andrew Benson).
Hamilton -> Mercedes
Perez -> Mclaren
J. Algersuari -> Sauber
MSC - management role in MGP?
I see fans disappointed by Lewis' move, labeling it as "betraying".
Kiril Varbanov wrote:Senior manager from TelMex hinted about the switch, as well as very informed Mexican journalist.
News confirmed in Twitter by Adam Cooper and Ian Parks (Reuters), BBC (Andrew Benson).
Hamilton -> Mercedes
Perez -> Mclaren
J. Algersuari -> Sauber
MSC - management role in MGP?
I see fans disappointed by Lewis' move, labeling it as "betraying".
Cannot see how Ferrari let Perez slip away like that....
Gerhardsa wrote:
Cannot see how Ferrari let Perez slip away like that....
The only reason might be to simply have the upper hand, called VET in 2014.
In the next couple of years many of the very capable current drivers will supposedly retire, but VET will be still young, and honestly I don't see which of the youngsters will battle him successfully.
McLaren announce Bernd Maylander as Lewis Hamilton replacement. They say his number of laps led and lack of crashes was a big factor #F1
by ChrisB
Eddie Jordan was right? I guess we are about to find out soon.
Gerhardsa wrote:
Cannot see how Ferrari let Perez slip away like that....
The only reason might be to simply have the upper hand, called VET in 2014.
In the next couple of years many of the very capable current drivers will supposedly retire, but VET will be still young, and honestly I don't see which of the youngsters will battle him successfully.
McLaren announce Bernd Maylander as Lewis Hamilton replacement. They say his number of laps led and lack of crashes was a big factor #F1
by ChrisB
Eddie Jordan was right? I guess we are about to find out soon.
Then in the same breath I would say that I dont Alsono think will allow Vet near Ferrari in 2014. Although I dont think Alonso feels as threatened by Vet than say Hamilton in the same car.
