Ferrari admit they have held Hamilton talks

Mark Scott
Mark Webber predicts another title for Lewis Hamilton in 2020, but the Constructors' trophy for Ferrari.

Mark Webber predicts another title for Lewis Hamilton in 2020, but the Constructors' trophy for Ferrari.

Ferrari have admitted for the first time that Lewis Hamilton has discussed joining the team in 2021.

Hamilton’s £40million-a-year deal with Mercedes expires at the end of next year and, although Britain’s six-time World Champion refused to deny a report at the final race in Abu Dhabi that he has already met with Ferrari chairman John Elkann, Camilleri confirmed that preliminary discussions over one of the sport’s biggest transfers have taken place.

“It has been made public that Lewis has had conversations with our chairman,” said Camilleri in a revealing end-of-year debrief at the Italian team’s Maranello headquarters.

“We clearly are very flattered that Lewis in particular, and other drivers, want to come and join us. Every driver on the grid would like to drive a Ferrari.

“We have a long-term agreement with one driver [Charles Leclerc] and with the other driver [Sebastian Vettel] the agreement expires at the end of 2020.

“It would be premature to decide anything now for the future. We will look at our options and see what is the best fit for our team.”

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