Yesterday (Wednesday) Eddie Jordan reported that current McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was close to signing a deal with Mercedes AMG F1 for 2013.
This news was shocking to me, but lets be honest, can we really trust a tiger onesie wearing 64 year old? However, he got Schumacher's return right so what really is going on?
On Wednesday EJ revealed that he thinks Michael Schumacher will be replaced for 2013 by the 2008 world champion. He said "I believe Hamilton and Mercedes have already agreed personal terms and a deal could be imminent,"
It is hard to trust Eddie Jordan because of his bonkers personality. His sources or research could be based on very little evidence, and the statements by both teams after the rumours started to spread show that neither are ready to comment or confirm their 2013 driver line up's.
However both Mercedes and McLaren denied the rumours. Mercedes released a statement outlining that it is simply just a rumour, saying "Until we are in a position to confirm our full driver line-up for next season, it is inevitable that there will be speculation around this topic." McLaren also released their own statement which said ""We have been told by Lewis Hamilton's management team that the story is untrue, negotiations between Lewis Hamilton and McLaren continue."
It is easy to jump to conclusions after those statements, that it will never happen. However stranger things have happened this season and a fresh team could be good for Hamilton.
These negotiations are supposedly "advanced discussions" which could suggest Eddie Jordan is simply speculating on a possible event. But would a move to Mercedes be a good one on Hamilton's part?
A positive of the move could be that he gets a contract which suits him in both the money and PR sense. We all know that Hamilton is looking at decreasing the amount of press work that he does. It also comes down to the money offered, Hamilton was given a huge amount of money when he renewed it last time but it is difficult to match that in the current financial climate.
It would also leave a big space at McLaren, for a possible younger driver to fill. But who would take over his seat alongside Jenson Button? Both Force India driver's have been linked with a possible move if Lewis does depart, and Kimi Raikkonen's name has also been floating around.
However Mercedes said this season that they would be challenging the top 3 or 4, and that has failed to happen. They scored their debut win in China, but since then their performance has been on a downhill spiral. They now sit 5th in the constructors, so would Mercedes be a step back? Lewis wants a championship winning car and I don't think Mercedes can deliver that, but that is only based on their performance over the past 2 and a half years.
This has caused a big stir on social media and in the F1 paddock, with rumours ever swirling. Whether it has any depth is another matter, EJ could be talking complete rubbish.
So what do we do? We just have to wait until Lewis or either teams confirm their 2012 line up. Its all a waiting game.
My thoughts? I think Lewis's heart lies with McLaren for now. He knows the team so well and has a really strong relationship. Despite a few errors and strains in that relationship, for example with the pit stops this year, Hamilton has his best chance of winning the championship in a McLaren car. It is that simple, they have the resources, the money, the power and brains to do it. They have both taken 2 wins a piece this season, and after a difficult middle of the year they are bouncing back. That should be a reassurance to Lewis.
What do you think? Is Hamilton best suited at McLaren or would he benefit from a move to Mercedes? Tweet me @JackLeslieF1 with your thoughts.
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| (c) Octane Photographic |
On Wednesday EJ revealed that he thinks Michael Schumacher will be replaced for 2013 by the 2008 world champion. He said "I believe Hamilton and Mercedes have already agreed personal terms and a deal could be imminent,"
It is hard to trust Eddie Jordan because of his bonkers personality. His sources or research could be based on very little evidence, and the statements by both teams after the rumours started to spread show that neither are ready to comment or confirm their 2013 driver line up's.
However both Mercedes and McLaren denied the rumours. Mercedes released a statement outlining that it is simply just a rumour, saying "Until we are in a position to confirm our full driver line-up for next season, it is inevitable that there will be speculation around this topic." McLaren also released their own statement which said ""We have been told by Lewis Hamilton's management team that the story is untrue, negotiations between Lewis Hamilton and McLaren continue."
It is easy to jump to conclusions after those statements, that it will never happen. However stranger things have happened this season and a fresh team could be good for Hamilton.
These negotiations are supposedly "advanced discussions" which could suggest Eddie Jordan is simply speculating on a possible event. But would a move to Mercedes be a good one on Hamilton's part?
A positive of the move could be that he gets a contract which suits him in both the money and PR sense. We all know that Hamilton is looking at decreasing the amount of press work that he does. It also comes down to the money offered, Hamilton was given a huge amount of money when he renewed it last time but it is difficult to match that in the current financial climate.
It would also leave a big space at McLaren, for a possible younger driver to fill. But who would take over his seat alongside Jenson Button? Both Force India driver's have been linked with a possible move if Lewis does depart, and Kimi Raikkonen's name has also been floating around.
However Mercedes said this season that they would be challenging the top 3 or 4, and that has failed to happen. They scored their debut win in China, but since then their performance has been on a downhill spiral. They now sit 5th in the constructors, so would Mercedes be a step back? Lewis wants a championship winning car and I don't think Mercedes can deliver that, but that is only based on their performance over the past 2 and a half years.
This has caused a big stir on social media and in the F1 paddock, with rumours ever swirling. Whether it has any depth is another matter, EJ could be talking complete rubbish.
So what do we do? We just have to wait until Lewis or either teams confirm their 2012 line up. Its all a waiting game.
My thoughts? I think Lewis's heart lies with McLaren for now. He knows the team so well and has a really strong relationship. Despite a few errors and strains in that relationship, for example with the pit stops this year, Hamilton has his best chance of winning the championship in a McLaren car. It is that simple, they have the resources, the money, the power and brains to do it. They have both taken 2 wins a piece this season, and after a difficult middle of the year they are bouncing back. That should be a reassurance to Lewis.
What do you think? Is Hamilton best suited at McLaren or would he benefit from a move to Mercedes? Tweet me @JackLeslieF1 with your thoughts.
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