Sky Sports presenter Simon Lazenby claims Lewis Hamilton would leave Mercedes for Ferrari

Simon Lazenby believes Lewis Hamilton would leave Mercedes for Ferrari in an attempt to win an eighth world title. 

Hamilton started the new Formula One season in disappointing fashion, placing only sixth in Bahrain and well down on runaway winner Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

The seven-time world champion’s contract expires at the end of the season, and speculation is rife that he could stall on a new deal if Mercedes fail to reverse their slump. 

Sky Sports presenter Lazenby says a move to Aston Martin is unlikely for Hamilton but Ferrari could be an option if they continue to be Red Bull’s closest competitors. 

‘Not to Aston, but how can you rule out a move to Ferrari if [Mercedes] stay like this?’, he said speaking on Sky Sports F1 Podcast. 

The new W14 was well off the pace in Bahrain, only managing to finish in sixth with Hamilton 

Simon Lazenby believes Hamilton could leave for Ferrari if Mercedes’ struggles continue

‘He’s so desperate for that eighth, that if Ferrari did manage to stay on the coattails and they were the nearest to Red Bull.

‘He’s not put his pen to paper yet on his contract. He’s definitely waiting to see how this year’s car felt. 

‘I think the great relationship with the team and Toto will endure but I don’t think you can ever rule out a move to Ferrari for racing drivers because it’s their dream and he’s said it before.’

Fellow Sky pundit Naomi Schiff says Hamilton will not leave Mercedes but a move to Ferrari would be on the cards if he did decide to go elsewhere 

‘I think Lewis would be more likely to go to Ferrari,’ she said, ‘but I don’t think he’s going to leave Mercedes.

‘He is very much a team player. I think he’s also said he wants to leave his legacy there and be part of the team just like Niki [Lauda] was. I don’t see him leaving last minute after all these years with the team.’

Heading into the race in Bahrain, Mercedes were already concerned with their 2023 challenger, the W14, an evolution of last year’s unusual ‘no-sidepod’ design that proved highly problematic and ended up failing to continue the team’s eight consecutive constructors’ championships. 

Team boss Toto Wolff has effectively already axed the car following what he called the ‘worst weekend of racing’ at the Sakhir Circuit, targeting his development team to reproduce a ‘radical’ new design.

Hamilton displayed his frustrations earlier this week as he insisted they would not be in this position had he been listened to at an earlier stage of development.

Mercedes and Hamilton will seek to change their fortunes in the second race of the season in Saudi Arabia next weekend. 

Naomi Schiff says Hamilton will not leave Mercedes but Ferrari could be next if he did