Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari chairman John Elkann have met “socially” but speculation that the six-time world champion could join the Italian team is premature, according to the manufacturer’s chief executive Louis Camilleri.
Hamilton’s £40m-per-year contract at Mercedes expires after the upcoming 2020 season, where the Briton will attempt to tie Michael Schumacher’s all-time championship record of seven titles.
It’s the first time Ferrari have admitted Hamilton has discussed joining them.
“I think it has been public that Lewis has had conversations with our chairman,” Camilleri said. “It was a social event, which has sort of been blown somewhat out of proportion, but it was a social event. They have some common friends.
“We clearly are very flattered that Lewis in particular and other drivers want to come and join us. Every driver on the grid would like to drive a Ferrari.
“We have a long-term agreement with one driver [Charles Leclerc] and with the other driver [Sebastian Vettel] the agreement expires at the end of 2020. It would be premature to decide anything now. We will look at our options and see what is the best fit for our team.”
Italian media had twice reported that Hamilton met with Elkann this year, which Ferrari neither confirmed nor denied.
“What happens behind closed doors is always private with whoever it is you end up sitting with,” Hamilton said after this month’s season-ending Abu Dhabi race.
Pushed over a possible power dynamic between Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who is considered the future of the team, Camilleri refused to comment.
“Honestly, I don’t want to go there. You are trying to push a bit too hard on the Lewis story,” he said. “It’s totally premature and we’ll look at our options at the appropriate time and we will see what is the best fit for us as a team.”
