Ferrari is reportedly set to offer Lewis Hamilton $50 million to leave Mercedes and move to the Scuderia at the end of this season.
According to Daily Mail F1 reporter Jonathan McEvoy, Stellantis and Ferrari chairman John Elkann is "in close contact" with Hamilton whom he hopes to lure to Maranello to eclipse the seven-time world title record the Briton currently holds in F1 jointly with former Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.
Rumors of Hamilton moving to Ferrari have been rampant this year on the back of the Briton's talks with Mercedes over a new and likely final deal in Formula 1 with the German manufacturer.
However, a week never goes by without Hamilton or Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff claiming that the pair is resolute on continuing its long-standing collaboration.
In Miami, Hamilton reiterated his stance on his future, insisting Mercedes would remain his home. But the Briton did not deny that a change of scenery had crossed his mind.
"I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about ending my career anywhere else," he admitted.
"I started at McLaren, I'd like to think I'll always be a part of the McLaren family, I started there when I was 13 years old, so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day.
"I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course you wonder what it would be like to be in red... But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home.
"I'm happy where I am. I haven't signed a contract yet, but we are working on one."
Ferrari enticing Hamilton to move to Maranello for the 2024 season would necessarily imply either Charles Leclerc or Carlos Sainz's exit from the Scuderia.
Both drivers are contracted to the Italian outfit for next season however. A straight swap between Hamilton and Leclerc could be one way of solving the issue, leaving the former to partner with Sainz.
Wolff recently admitted that Leclerc was a driver that Mercedes had "on its radar" although the Austrian denied that he had a short term interest in the Monegasque.
"Nobody doubts Charles’ ability and he is a good guy," Wolff said in Baku. "He is 100 per cent committed to Ferrari and we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis."
Both Mercedes and Ferrari are undertaking big efforts this season to turn around their fortunes. For Hamilton, it could be a case of better the devil you know that the devil you don't.
While joining Ferrari offers him a chance to enhance his legacy in F1, it also carries the risk of tarnishing it.
If the seven-time world champion doesn't achieve the same level of success at Ferrari as he did with Mercedes, it could raise questions and potentially overshadow his previous accomplishments.
The pressure and expectations associated with representing Ferrari could also weigh heavily on Hamilton's shoulders.
Hamilton has emphasized the importance of the close relationship he shares with Wolff and the sense of family within the team.
Moving to Ferrari would mean leaving behind an outfit where he feels comfortable and supported. Adjusting to a new environment and building similar relationships could take time and may not be as seamless as his current situation.
It's all conjecture for now, but if Ferrari's offer is legit, Hamilton's decision likely won't be swayed by money.
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