If I were Mercedes, I'd be pretty unhappy with this being said right now: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104746 Lewis Hamilton says it would be nice to go back to McLaren in the future, as he sees the team as his home. Hamilton is leaving McLaren at the end of the year to race with rival Mercedes after six seasons with the Woking-based outfit. His exit from McLaren puts an end to a relationship that began when he was racing in karting as a 10-year-old. After one title and 21 grand prix wins, Hamilton said he needed a new challenge and accepted Mercedes's three-year deal offer. The Briton admitted, however, that the prospect of returning to McLaren in the future is never out of question.
He's smart in not burning that bridge. Just keeping his options open. Nothing wrong with that as I see it
+1 I'm sure the interviewer asked him "leading" questions so as to get those comments. That's fine. No need to burn any bridges as you say. [Despite Lightguys assertions that said bridge has been blown to hell! ] Cheers, Ian
Despite the fact that I am not a Hammy fan, I am concerned that you will lose that bet. I think next year is in the air, but unfortunately I think Merc will be a force in 2014.
All he's saying is he's not ruling anything out, any team in the future. Whether that's staying with MB, back to Mclaren, heading to red bull, wherever, options are all open. They were trying to corner him with this question.
Well I wish I'd been in a position to make such a monumental mistake, I mean driving a F1 car, and getting paid a huge amount of money to do so, what a nightmare.
I wish Hami didn't leave McLaren, and good for him not buring his bridges. On another note, I had hoped that McLaren would have signed Hulkenberg instead of Perez, but that is just my opinion. The sadest part of all this is, Kobayshi having to work back at his fathers Sushi Restaurant. Too bad he cannot replace Lettuce at Lotus.
Agreed. A HUGE blow to Hamilton is the FIA's recent ruling that the aero rules from 2014 on will be the same as 2012 rather than an all-new set. Merc might have had a chance if it was going to be a clean sheet. Now I can't see it happening. As for Koba, apparently he's raised nearly $2 mil, not that much, but it's better than nothing. I'd love to see him at Lotus but I could fully understand if they retained Grosjean. Grosjean is a project but he has the speed.
IMHO Bernie orchestrated the transfer of Hamilton to MB to keep them happy and in F1. Once his time is up, he'll be happy to go back to McLaren. So I'm not surprised by his comments at all.
But, if you are Mercedes, it sounds like your heart's not in it... and you've only been with the team a few weeks.
An interesting prediction... ... just like this one. Do you have any background info on Bernie's involvement, or is it speculation on your part, Andreas?
It is speculation by a friend of mine who is very much involved with the sport. And no, he is not a journo. Indeed. But they don't really have a choice. AND Lewis is the best they ever got and most likely will ever get.
Perez is one of the worst drivers out there - hot headed; young; silly mistakes. Im surprised that McLaren picked him up with the pack of available drivers.
Sounds just like Gilles Villeneuve when he landed in F1. I bet McLaren were pretty pissed that they let him go to Ferrari
The phrase "Gap Year" was being used in conversations about Lewis on Sky at Brazil... I think there's a plan in motion and Lewis is spending X number of seasons elsewhere to grow as a driver, before returning to McLaren.
Grow as a driver, or grow his bankroll? I thought the story was he had freedom to become a media star at Mercedes...? Bobbleheads, keychains, rap star...the whole 9 yards.
I'd question how much of that is real or just lip service. It wouldn't surprise me if Bernie had a part to play in Lewis heading to Merc but at the end of the day it's Merc who had the purse strings and Bernie had zero control over that you can be sure. It's just business, and Lewis stands to make much more with the freedoms Merc are giving him than he would with Mclaren. And Mercedes have someone with a name to replace Schu with which they certainly needed if Schu left. Not having a name at Merc would be a giant hole in their entire organization and they would have paid the sun and the moon to get someone in with them, and pay they did.
