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New Mercedes F1 contract “nearly there”, no Ferrari talks

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The seven-time world champion has been at the center of speculation this week as Ferrari prepares to lure him to Maranello as a potential partner for Charles Leclerc in 2024.

But Hamilton also poured cold water on suggestions he was considering a switch, as Ferrari made clear on Thursday that the matter had not yet been discussed.

Plus: Will Hamilton really be a worthwhile investment for Ferrari in F1?

Hamilton said the reports were nothing more than speculation, explaining that he was delighted with the progress his management team had made in reaching a new deal with Mercedes.

“I naturally think that when you’re in contract negotiations, there’s always guesswork,” he said.

“I think, in the end, unless you hear from me, that’s it.”

Hamilton hopes the new deal with Mercedes will be finalized in the coming weeks as he is pleased with the fact that for the first time in his career he will not have to deal with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff himself. negotiation.

Mercedes-AMG Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff and Mercedes-AMG Team's Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes-AMG Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff and Mercedes-AMG Team’s Lewis Hamilton

Photography: Steve Etherington/ motorsport pictures

“My team is working closely with Toto behind the scenes,” he said. “We are close to finishing contract preparations.

“I have a team that is focused on it, so I can do my job. It’s a lot better than where I was before because I remember I used to negotiate on my own and it was stressful. So, I don’t have to do that anymore gone.”

Mercedes may face a tougher challenge in convincing Hamilton to stay due to their current underperformance, but the Briton said his opinion of the team’s strength has not changed.

Asked if the speed of the car had an effect on his talk, he said: “I don’t think it has an effect because we are still a championship team.

“It’s just that we picked the wrong car. There have been some decisions over the last two years that weren’t ideal and we’re working on that.

“We had a new upgrade this weekend, the team worked incredibly hard to make it happen and we’ve decided after Bahrain that this is what we’re going to do.

“I was a little bummed when the last game was canceled because I was excited to try this new package. So while it’s not the best platform, to really see these platforms come to fruition, we hope to experience it next week More.

“But, as I said, my team is chatting, discussing with the (Mercedes) team backstage and we’re almost done.”

Asked directly if Ferrari had contacted him or his representatives about an offer, Hamilton said: “No.”

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Leclerc not surprised after Q1 elimination: 'Have no answers now'

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Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time of 19th in qualifying, forcing him to start Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix at least from the penultimate position. The Ferrari driver had hoped for more, but suddenly ran into problems. What was missing, he found it difficult to say. According to the Monaco native, it was clear something was wrong.

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Leclerc has ‘no answer’ after Q1 exit in F1 Spanish GP qualifying

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During the brief Q1 session, Leclerc reported over the radio that he had a problem with his rear tire as he struggled to secure a consistent finish in qualifying.

After missing his first flyer, Leclerc was under pressure to secure a Q2 seat in the final seconds of the race, but he finished just 19th, while team-mate Carlos Sainz finished fourth. Achievement promotion.

After the race, Leclerc said he did not know what went wrong with his Ferrari through Barcelona’s left-hand corner in the first quarter.

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“I don’t have an answer. At the moment, the only thing I can say is that it’s impossible to drive on the left,” he said.

“Through the right-hand corner it feels very similar to this morning, but in the left-hand corner there is something we need to analyze and understand because it’s far from what I expected.”

Leclerc initially thought he had a problem with his tyres, but the problem persisted in his second set, confusing him as he was free from any problems in Saturday morning’s third free practice session.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23

Photography: Mark Sutton/ motorsport pictures

“I thought it was a tire problem in the first set, but then we did the second set and it felt exactly the same,” he added.

“I just didn’t have grip in the left-hand corner at the back, so we’ll check the car and I’d be very surprised if everything is fine.

“Even in the rough conditions this morning, I feel really good about the car, so something is not right.”

As Sainz went on to finish second behind Max Verstappen, in front of an ecstatic Spanish crowd, Leclerc revealed the strange behavior of his car nearly crashed him.

“I had a lot of moments, even during the first red flag, where I almost lost it and threw it into the gravel in the left-hand corner,” he explained.

“It’s very, very strange behavior, so we have to check the car.”

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Sainz optimistic after Qualifying: ‘We can focus on getting the podium'

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Carlos Sainz qualified P2 at the Grand Prix in his hometown of Barcelona. While the Ferrari driver was nowhere near Verstappen, he was the best of the others today. On the other hand, his teammate Charles Leclerc finished 19th.

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