F1 Insider Comments On Lewis Hamilton Leaving Mercedes: "He Wants Performance"
As the F1 season kicks off, all eyes are on Mercedes and their star driver, Lewis Hamilton. After a disappointing 2022 campaign, the Brackley squad is looking to return to their title-winning ways. However, the 2023 season-opener in Bahrain showed that Mercedes still has a lot of work to do to reach the top of the pack again.
Mark Webber, ex-F1 racer, believes that while Hamilton won't rush into any decisions about his future, Mercedes must step up their game if they want to keep him. The fact remains that Hamilton's Mercedes deal is up at the end of the season, and the team's performance will play a significant role in his decision-making.
The Bahrain race saw Hamilton finish in P5, behind the Red Bulls, as well as Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz of Aston Martin and Ferrari, respectively. Hamilton did not hold back in his assessment of Mercedes' performance, stating that they were "nowhere near" podium contention and "miles off" Ferrari's pace.
Despite this setback, Hamilton remains positive and wants to be the driving force behind the Mercedes team's success. But with his sights set on an eighth world championship, Hamilton will undoubtedly consider his options when it comes to renewing his contract with Mercedes.
Webber describes the situation as "fascinating," and he's not wrong. Mercedes must up their game if they want to retain Hamilton's services. The seven-time world champion is undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, and losing him would be a significant blow for the team.
Webber explained on Channel 4:
“I find it absolutely fascinating what’s going to happen here.
“Because honestly, Lewis’ trophy cabinet is not in question, he’s a winner, he can still win. I think he’s got an immense motivation, but this industry is about, for him now, he wants performance, and he knows the technical details of these things [cars] is not the work of an overnight technical revelation that they’re going to pull out one day to the next and find that performance.
“So what is he going to do? How is he going to position himself mentally the first part of the season?
“He will give everything, but the Tom Brady’s of this world, the people that he looks up to, long careers, I think he will take great advice before he makes a decision, and I don’t think it’ll be a rushed decision, but Merc have got to pull their socks up.”