Ferrari principal Mattia Binotto says the fact that Lewis Hamilton isn’t under any contract for 2021 “can only make us happy”.
Hamilton and Mercedes have become a match made in heaven – six consecutive Constructors’ titles for the Silver Arrows and the Drivers’ Championship in five of those six years for Hamilton.
But, like several of F1’s top stars, Hamilton’s contract expires at the end of the 2020 season, and he has been regularly linked with a switch to Ferrari.
The Scuderia won’t begin discussing their driver options until the middle of next year, but Binotto admitted he’s “happy” that Hamilton may be available for the following season.
“Lewis is certainly an outstanding driver, a fantastic driver,” he said during the team principals press conference in Abu Dhabi.
“Knowing that he’s available in 2021 can make us only happy, but honestly it’s too early for any decision. We are happy with the drivers we’ve got at the moment.
“Certainly at one stage next season we will start discussing and understanding what to do.”
Hamilton has said that his decision whether or not to stay at Mercedes from 2021 rests heavily on what his team principal Toto Wolff does – the Austrian is reportedly in the conversation to become the new boss of F1.
And Wolff is flattered that his own future plays a part in Hamilton’s decision.
“Lewis and I have grown close over the last seven years. We ended up in Mercedes at the same time in 2013 and I think we have built up a lot of trust,” he explained.
“At the same time, the two of us are part of a wider organisation where everybody is playing in their relative field of competence.
“For him to say that is nice. I’d also like to know where he goes or if he stays in the future.
“We are having those discussions about the future and I think it is very important between the two of us, like between many others that have played an important role within that team.
“There are many things to be decided on and we will see over the winter.”
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