Manoah2u wrote: ↑23 Aug 2021, 17:48
The single and only chance I can see Lewis go to Ferrari if for some reason 2022 turns out to have a fantastic WDC dominant car and Mercedes and Aston Martin miss the mark bigtime.
He then MIGHT get a chance in 2023 to replace a Ferrari driver - IF said ferrari driver drops the ball as hard as Bottas @ Merc or F.E. Albon @ RBR.
For that to happen though both Ferrari and Lewis both have to even have interest in such a deal, and quite frankly,
i doubt either camp really is interested, especially as long as Binotto is there.
Let's be honest here, Hamilton is facing his natural F1 racing career decline, and as such his F1 retirement. If he ever was motivated to drive for Ferrari to grab a title, that time certainly has passed a few seasons ago. Both Lewis and Ferrari know this, and as others mentioned more than once, Hamilton has been a Mercedes 'player' all his racing career.
If 2022 turns out bad in regards to WDC possibilities, he'll reconcider his future in F1, not his future at which or what F1 team.
He already showed for this by wanting more involvement in the team, so he'll most likely simply end his F1 career as a 8-time WDC and leave it be - and more likely take on an advisory role in the Mercedes team - to meanwhile take on similar adventures as Alonso did - LeMans, Indy500, perhaps Dakar, and go for some fun MotoGP adventures.
I could see him go for that role for about 2 or 3 seasons whilst becoming a champion for causes like BLM, perhaps support the LBGT stuff in Motorsports and racing,
to then find a job either @ the FIA or alongside Ross Brawn in Formula 1 itself - or, perhaps take on a Niki Lauda-like role @ Mercedes, Mclaren, Aston Martin or Williams,
and become a manager for 'black' talent and fund and motivate a return for F1 to South Africa.
So in all reality, no, i don't see Lewis going to Ferrari at all.
Hamilton certainly will grab the 2021 F1 title.
After that, it's either Mercedes still high in the game with a good chance of title NR9,
and then Lewis probably will try a shot for title 10. But at any point, he has done enough and could decide to end his F1 career 'overnight'.
Its because of this it's extra important for Mercedes to have Russell aboard and give him a shot alongside Hamilton.
When Hamilton then retires - perhaps 2023 or 2024, there's a variety of drivers to put in the 2nd seat.
Vettel, Norris, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Sainz.
Meanwhile Mercedes seems to be 'rethinking' their motorsport participations.
Wolff seems to hint that his involvement is going to be of lesser sort too in the Merc' F1 team.
It's likely Mercedes will revert back into an engine supplier, and go for the hypercar challenges instead.
Either way, by 2025 and 2026 the entire F1 landscape will be totally different to what it is now.
What could happen though somewhere in the future, if F1 decides to go crazy and give back a shot at V10 and V12
engines with fully synthetic fuels - then I think there might be a shot where Hamilton pulls a Lauda, Schumacher and Alonso:
return to F1 to participate with the type of engine he never got to drive. I could see him do that with Mclaren or Aston Martin tbh,
Here's something to ponder about:
Hamilton grabs his 8th tile, and his 9th, then retires from F1.
Verstappen will never grab a WDC title.
Russell will take his 1st after Lewis' retirement.
Max will switch teams but still won't manage a WDC.
Leclerc won't grab a title either.
Norris might though.
Alonso comes close too.
Few years on, F1 being fully switched to Synth fuels and ground effect cars, high revving V8, V10 or V12 will return.
Mclaren and Mercedes invest in a mighty V10 or V12 engine, do a secret test with Hamilton, and decide to wheel him back into F1.
Hamilton is WDC immediately with a super dominant high revving V10/V12 Mclaren and grabs his 10th title.
2nd year on he is still super competitive but competition grows a lot and doesn't go on for a 3rd season and ends his F1 career permanently.