Hamilton delivers CRYPTIC F1 future statement in 'last' admission

Hamilton delivers CRYPTIC F1 future statement in ‘last’ admission…..read more

Lewis Hamilton has sparked fresh speculation about his future in Formula 1 after delivering a cryptic statement following a turbulent Brazilian Grand Prix weekend. The seven-time world champion left fans and pundits wondering if he might be considering a premature exit from Mercedes, despite still having a contract for the 2024 season.

The São Paulo weekend was one of the most emotionally complex in Hamilton’s illustrious career. On one hand, he was given the rare and meaningful opportunity to drive the iconic MP4 car of his motorsport idol, Ayrton Senna, a moment that brought him immense joy. However, on the other hand, Hamilton’s weekend was marred by disappointing performances and technical issues with his current team, Mercedes.

Hamilton faced a challenging Friday, struggling to get to grips with the car, and his weekend didn’t improve much from there. He qualified a disappointing 12th for Saturday’s sprint race, and despite pushing hard, finished outside the points in 11th. The weekend’s problems were compounded by complaints from Hamilton and other drivers about the newly resurfaced Interlagos track, which caused significant bouncing and physical discomfort for those behind the wheel.

Things didn’t get any better for Hamilton during Sunday’s race. A delayed qualifying session, moved to the morning of the race due to weather conditions, further hindered his chances. Hamilton, typically strong in wet conditions, failed to make it out of Q1, starting the race in 14th position. By the time the main event arrived, Hamilton was already feeling the effects of a physically demanding weekend, having driven Senna’s McLaren earlier in the day and then enduring the challenges of qualifying and the sprint race. Despite his best efforts, Hamilton was left to fight for points, and he ultimately finished in 10th place, managing to scrape a point in what had been an error-prone race.

After the race, Hamilton’s message over team radio raised eyebrows. Addressing his Mercedes team, he said, “That was a disaster of a weekend guys. That’s the worst the car has ever been, but thank you for continuing to try. Great job to all the guys at the pit stop. If this is the last time I get to perform, it’s a shame it wasn’t great, but grateful for you.”

These words, particularly the phrase “If this is the last time I get to perform,” immediately sparked speculation that Hamilton might be considering an early departure from Mercedes before the end of the season. With the 39-year-old having already spoken about needing a “break” after a challenging series of results, it was not difficult to interpret his comments as a sign that he could be contemplating leaving the team earlier than expected.

Hamilton’s future in Formula 1 has already been the subject of much speculation, with many pointing to a potential switch to Ferrari in 2025, following his contract’s expiration at the end of 2024. It is widely known that Hamilton has long dreamed of racing for the Scuderia, and the 2024 season could mark his final year with Mercedes after 12 years together, during which he won six of his seven world titles with the team. Despite the emotional nature of Hamilton’s message, it was not an outright confirmation of his departure.

Adding further fuel to the fire is the growing expectation that Mercedes has already identified a future star in 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian driver is seen as a potential replacement for Hamilton in the 2025 season and beyond. Antonelli has impressed in junior categories, and many believe he could be the future of the Mercedes driver lineup. This has led to speculation that Hamilton might decide to retire earlier than planned, giving Mercedes the chance to integrate Antonelli into the team for the long term.

However, Mercedes has firmly denied any intentions to replace Hamilton before the end of the 2024 season. The team has reassured fans that they are fully committed to supporting Hamilton through the remainder of the year. Despite the team’s struggles in 2024, particularly with the dominance of Red Bull Racing, Mercedes has stated that there are no plans to make changes to their driver lineup at this stage.

With Hamilton’s cryptic statement and the ongoing rumors surrounding his future, the remainder of the 2024 season will be pivotal for both the driver and the team. As Mercedes works to close the performance gap to Red Bull and improve their car, Hamilton will need to decide whether to continue with the team or explore new opportunities. His legacy in Formula 1 is secure, but the next steps in his career remain uncertain, and fans are left eagerly awaiting any further revelations about his future in the sport. For now, it seems that Hamilton will continue with Mercedes for the rest of 2024, but his longer-term plans remain very much up in the air.