[Artemis]

"Hamilton’s management ‘must talk to Ferrari’" (March 2, 2023)
https://thejudge13.com/2023/03/02/ha...lk-to-ferrari/

"Lewis Hamilton 'could quit Mercedes for Ferrari' as Toto Wolff faces extra pressure" (March 4, 2023)
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...f1-news-latest

‘I wouldn’t rule it out’: Lewis Hamilton could ditch Mercedes for Ferrari (March 4, 2023)
https://formula1news.co.uk/i-wouldnt...s-for-ferrari/

"Lewis Hamilton talks on back burner as Mercedes focus on reversing slow start" (March 6, 2023)
https://www.independent.co.uk/f1/f1-...-b2294956.html

"A fairytale end at Ferrari, taking a Fernando Alonso style sabbatical or staying at lagging Mercedes... what are Lewis Hamilton's F1 options in his pursuit of a record eighth world title after glum start to the season?" (March 7, 2023)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...rld-title.html

[Marcoose]

Too early to say. Better wait for silly season, and the quality of his car.

[FC4]

He will remain throughout his career. No question.

[yco]

i dont think Lewis ll go to Ferrari's toxic environment..

[NYG]

Lewis stays Mercedes

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

Lewis stays Mercedes

Yeah . LEW would be beaten by Charlie at Ferrari

[NYG]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yeah . LEW would be beaten by Charlie at Ferrari

Agreed

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Too early to say. Better wait for silly season, and the quality of his car.

Agreed.

Undoubtedly Leclerc and Hamilton are fully aware of the fact that, if they want to have a realistic chance to getting the 2023 WDC title, they cannot afford losing podiums. They must get ahead of Verstappen race weekend after race weekend, as the latter takes no prisoners. Once he's on a roll with his RB19, the guy is an unstoppable race machine, ruthlessly decimating the whole field. Only DNFs, a race ban, injuries not allowing him to compete during several races or a significant improvement of the Ferrari or Mercedes AMG cars performance, will stop Verstappen in dominating also the 2023 season.

As Marcoose pointed out, let's see how the 2023 season shapes up this Spring.

If Leclerc and Hamilton remain unhappy about their current situation (team decisions/orders or performance of their cars or a very competitive team mate (with lower pay check) or all of that), the idea of moving on to either Mercedes AMG (Leclerc) or Ferrari (Hamilton) may cross their minds at times: back in clean air, a new work environment, a new team mate, know how about the current team, bigger pay check, new fans.

Drawbacks: change must be a change for the better. In the past, Michael Schumacher surprisingly moved on from 'his' Ferrari dream team to Mercedes AMG to end his F1 career, but failed to repeat his earlier success formula (P9, P8 and P13). Schumacher had become a 'has been'. Also Vettel surprisingly moved on from 'his' Red Bull dream team to Ferrari, but failed to get them a WDC (P3, P4, P2, P2, P5, P13), and ended his career in oblivion at Aston Martin (P12 and P12).

But Alonso apparently being podium eligible again after his shock move from Alpine (with his 'El Plan') to A$ton Martin, may inspire them. Tons of cash on offer may also help in the decision-making.

[///M Power-Belgium]

LEW and his suicide mission ..

[NYG]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

LEW and his suicide mission ..

Hope he's ready to wait until 2026 to see if it's possible.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

LEW and his suicide mission ..

What's the saying...crash and burn

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by NYG

Hope he's ready to wait until 2026 to see if it's possible.

At the moment Mercedes is nowhere and I hear that LEW's contract extension is been put in the freezer .

A 'new W14 is priority #1 at Mercedes and that won't be easy with the FIA budget regulation .

In other words : Mercedes struggles in deep 5H1T !

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

At the moment Mercedes is nowhere and I hear that LEW's contract extension is been put in the freezer .

A 'new W14 is priority #1 at Mercedes and that won't be easy with the FIA budget regulation .

In other words : Mercedes struggles in deep 5H1T !

Mercedes AMG made progress compared to 2022. But at this stage, it's not enough to truly threaten Ferrari and Red Bull. They could claw back in forthcoming races if they change the W14 design. Aston Martin shows that the Mercedes engine has potential to keep up with the front runners.

I was surprised that Hamilton didn't manage to pass Sainz in the final stages of the Bahrain race. He came close and it seemed that Sainz couldn't keep him behind him. Maybe tire degradation of the Mercedes from fighting Alonso or did Ferrari change a power setting near the end of the race ? Gap between Sainz and Hamilton was less than 3 seconds (2.925s) at the chequered flag.

[Marcoose]

Originally Posted by Artemis

I was surprised that Hamilton didn't manage to pass Sainz in the final stages of the Bahrain race. He came close and it seemed that Sainz couldn't keep him behind him. Maybe tire degradation of the Mercedes from fighting Alonso or did Ferrari change a power setting near the end of the race ? Gap between Sainz and Hamilton was less than 3 seconds (2.925s) at the chequered flag.

Hamilton is a superior racer, but the edgy hunger is missing. Last year too, there were times that it seemed he could’ve pushed but didn’t.

If Aston stays in the fight, I can see Lawrence sitting Lance out for a season or two in order to have a chance at a title. (I would.) The Alonso-Hamilton combo would be epic for many reasons.

[c1pher]

I think he’s thirsty to be rated as awesome as Schumacher but unfortunately he’s already the second driver for Mercedes. Time comes for all of us. Alonso is enjoying his moment however short lived.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Hamilton is a superior racer, but the edgy hunger is missing. Last year too, there were times that it seemed he could’ve pushed but didn’t.

If Aston stays in the fight, I can see Lawrence sitting Lance out for a season or two in order to have a chance at a title. (I would.) The Alonso-Hamilton combo would be epic for many reasons.

That would never happen. His son had two injured wrists (one broken) and a broken toe and he still drove. He wouldn't let someone else drive in his place, even if Hamilton.

[a5m]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Mercedes AMG made progress compared to 2022. But at this stage, it's not enough to truly threaten Ferrari and Red Bull. They could claw back in forthcoming races if they change the W14 design. Aston Martin shows that the Mercedes engine has potential to keep up with the front runners.

I was surprised that Hamilton didn't manage to pass Sainz in the final stages of the Bahrain race. He came close and it seemed that Sainz couldn't keep him behind him. Maybe tire degradation of the Mercedes from fighting Alonso or did Ferrari change a power setting near the end of the race ? Gap between Sainz and Hamilton was less than 3 seconds (2.925s) at the chequered flag.

I was surprised by that too. I think the Ferrari was strong in certain sectors where the Merc couldn't close the gap further, so HAM just gave up. Maybe tire deg. What Sainz said about his tires being dead if he defended Alonso made his defense that much more impressive.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Hamilton is a superior racer, but the edgy hunger is missing. Last year too, there were times that it seemed he could’ve pushed but didn’t.

If Aston stays in the fight, I can see Lawrence sitting Lance out for a season or two in order to have a chance at a title. (I would.) The Alonso-Hamilton combo would be epic for many reasons.

The battle between Alonso and Hamilton was entertaining during the Bahrain opening race. Close combat without taking each other out of the race - two seasoned grand masters at work.

IMHO it's unfathomable that Alonso and Hamilton will ever be team mates again. Too much has happened between them since their McLaren Mercedes days ± 15 years ago.

[M5Rick]

"Lewis Hamilton 'could quit Mercedes for Ferrari' as Toto Wolff faces extra pressure" (March 4, 2023)
[url]https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-autosport/1740954/lewis-hamilton-]
------------------------
I wouldn't take on board too much of what British newspapers say, I can't see Leclerc leaving anytime in spite of current bad luck through the reds unreliability with Sainz being the back-up mainstay and talk of Leclerc saying he wants to leave is cheap.

[NYG]

Originally Posted by a5m

That would never happen. His son had two injured wrists (one broken) and a broken toe and he still drove. He wouldn't let someone else drive in his place, even if Hamilton.

Yeah Drugovich should have drove that race.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Mercedes AMG made progress compared to 2022. But at this stage, it's not enough to truly threaten Ferrari and Red Bull. They could claw back in forthcoming races if they change the W14 design. Aston Martin shows that the Mercedes engine has potential to keep up with the front runners.

I was surprised that Hamilton didn't manage to pass Sainz in the final stages of the Bahrain race. He came close and it seemed that Sainz couldn't keep him behind him. Maybe tire degradation of the Mercedes from fighting Alonso or did Ferrari change a power setting near the end of the race ? Gap between Sainz and Hamilton was less than 3 seconds (2.925s) at the chequered flag.

Sure . And that's why Wolff called *Allison back , to make (something)! from the underperforming W14.

Further Wolff said : We can't go on like that , even the Aston is faster than us .
Allison started already with the job to improve the W14 and the first improvements will be for at Jeddah .

I say , that won't be easy because who knowns in advance if the W14 improvements will work at the track .
Whatever Mercedes improves they will never beat the combination MAX and the RB19 , because that's the holy F1 grail...

Let's keep in mind : MAX was 1 sec. faster during the race than Mercedes and Ferrari while Gianpiero Lambiase (GP) called MAX to please slow down .
Finally MAX slowed down and ran with 90% of the HONDA power because Lambiase said over the onboard radio to MAX :
MAX please slow down ! This Isn't a race for us ...

Useless to say that the RB19 is better than the RB18 from last year and MAX looks sharper than ever before ...
MAX's hunger to win will never stop , put MAX in a competitive car and the rest drives for P2 !
As we have seen last year : MAX won't take prisoners !

Regarding the Jeddah street circuit :
The Jeddah track looks like a curse to me ...
If something goes wrong at this track , the dangerous walls and the blind turns are all over the place .
I said it last year and this year I'll say it again :
The Jeddah track is like a rat trap and it actually can't meet the FIA security measures !

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by Marcoose

Hamilton is a superior racer, but the edgy hunger is missing. Last year too, there were times that it seemed he could’ve pushed but didn’t.

If Aston stays in the fight, I can see Lawrence sitting Lance out for a season or two in order to have a chance at a title. (I would.) The Alonso-Hamilton combo would be epic for many reasons.

2022