Lewis Hamilton linked with Mercedes for 2013

Lewis Hamilton has been linked with a move to Mercedes for 2013, in a switch which would most likely see Michael Schumacher retire after the current season. The Briton has been strongly linked at staying with McLaren for next season, however recent events have thrown cat amongst the pigeons with regards to his future with McLaren.

According to BBC pundit and former team owner Eddie Jordan, Lewis Hamilton has already signed a deal to become a Mercedes driver next season. Although many members of the Formula 1 fraternity have strongly disregarded these rumors, the allegations have sent shockwaves through the sport, with McLaren and Mercedes both issuing separate statements denying the rumors. With Lewis Hamilton’s contract with McLaren coming to an end after this season, speculation has been ripe on where the 2008 World Champion will be come the start of the 2013 season.

"I believe Hamilton and Mercedes have already agreed personal terms and a deal could be imminent.” Explained Eddie Jordan to the BBC. “I can now confirm his people have had meetings with Mercedes. There has been some uncertainty over Mercedes’ position in F1. The board is unhappy at the current performance of the team, but getting Hamilton would undoubtedly be a massive coup and it could give the F1 team some breathing space."

Eddie Jordan, who ran his own F1 team between 1991 and 2005, believes such a deal would be highly beneficial for Hamilton’s management team, who Jordan believes are currently trying to make Lewis Hamilton a major global star. Lewis Hamilton has only ever raced for McLaren so far throughout his highly eventful, and relatively short, Formula 1 career.

“Hamilton has not agreed terms with McLaren yet.” Continued Eddie Jordan, “In fact the team have made it clear they cannot offer him as big a salary as his current $15m (£9.42m) deal, which was negotiated before the global financial crisis. On top of that, McLaren have to pay for their Mercedes engines for the first time next year. Hamilton moving to Mercedes would also make a lot of sense in the context of his manager Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls and now David Beckham. Fuller is trying to position Hamilton as a major global star, like Beckham, and Mercedes is a much bigger global brand than McLaren.”

Both McLaren and Mercedes have strongly denied these rumors, however if Michael Schumacher does decide to finally retire at the end of this season, a vacant drive with Mercedes could prove enticing for Hamilton, who has endured a rocky couple of seasons with McLaren. With Mercedes expected to finalize their 2013 driving line-up no sooner than October, rumors such as these will continue to circulate.

If Lewis Hamilton does jump ship to Mercedes, the next question everyone will be asking is who will fill the vacancy at Woking? Force India’s Paul di Resta is currently favorite, however the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen could also be a possibility if the Finn fails to win a race this season. Naturally everything is just rumors and allegations at this stage, however anything seems possible in what is quickly becoming one of the most interesting and unique seasons of Formula 1 racing for many decades.

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