British F1 defending champion Lewis Hamilton of tema Mercedes. (Getty Images)
Defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton revealed why Mercedes appealed to him over the likes of Ferrari.
British driver Hamilton, who has won the 6 world championships so far currently plies his trade with Mercedes.
Hamilton and team boss Toto Wolff were in conversation when the former decided to open up on what appealed to him the most about the German team.
“What Mercedes have done for all their drivers – even Sir Stirling Moss is still a part of the team – they honour that and you become a part of a legacy and a life-long partner, which I think is super appealing”.
When asked if he fancied winning with Mercedes’s rivals Ferrari, Hamilton was a little coy:
“I think that’s like a short-term kind of thing. If you look at all drivers who have driven for Ferrari, obviously it’s an incredible team and obviously the car’s always beautiful red. I have got red on my helmet. Red is the colour of passion or love or whatever you want to say.”
Meanwhile, it is Hamilton, who has played a major role in making Mercedes’s one of the most successful teams in recent F1 history. Of the six world titles they have won overall, Hamilton has won five driver’s titles during that time.
The Brit’s contract is set to expire at the end of this year and discussions with Mercedes haven’t started until now.
Hamilton added that he would sit down with Mercedes CEO Wolff and discuss his options of signing a new deal.
Both Hamilton and Wolff also shut down rumours of a possible contract extension saying that they have not yet spoken about numbers.
“We haven’t sat down and talked yet. It’s crazy because there’s all these talks in the media and everything,” Hamilton said.
“I have a certain approach normally in the sense that I don’t stress. I trust Toto and we have that trust between us. We have told each other basically what our goals are, and what our aims are, and our commitments and so I don’t ever feel there’s necessarily always a rush.”
“But sometimes Toto’s like “is everything ok?” So, we always keep the channel open and I’m sure in the near future we’ll start to sit down. But I don’t feel stressed,” Hamilton said clearing all doubts.
The pair also jokingly revealed a story where Wolf had to engage in a 10-hour conversation with Hamilton over a pizza for the latter’s contract extension back in 2018.
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