Mercedes Adamant that They can Manage Without Lewis Hamilton if he Leaves

Newly crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton is currently under contract with Mercedes till 2020. However, once the season ends and when the new rules come into effect, everything is up in the air.

Team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that Mercedes may have to prepare for an eventuality that Hamilton may not race with them in 2021. However, he is confident that the team could cope even if the British driver elects to switch to a rival team.

Negotiations for Hamilton’s contract will soon begin, and both Mercedes and Hamilton are eager to continue their partnership. However, with the rise of a number of talents like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, Lewis will have plenty of competition.

Suggestions revealed that top drivers could financially capitalise on the rule changes for 2021. Naturally, fresh rumours of a Ferrari switch for Hamilton returned, along with a shake-up of the top order.

“It’s natural that drivers always dream of Ferrari, the most important brand in Formula 1,” Wolff admitted to Sky Italia. “Red is like the sun in Formula 1.”

However, he could not resist a sly dig at Ferrari, when he admitted that Hamilton does not need ‘to chase that sun’, instead he needs to win.

“He needs to be with a team and with people who love to work. And his emotion and heart are definitely with Mercedes today.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Toto Wolff confessed that the 34-year old could possibly pursue that Ferrari “dream” for 2021.

“We hope to have the two most competitive drivers in Formula 1,” he said. “And he (Hamilton) is our priority today.

“But if he wants to have a look at the market, we have to as well. And there are others that I like.”

For now though, Lewis Hamilton can celebrate his sixth world championship before the paddock heads to Brazil.