Hamilton refuses to rule out Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton believes the opportunity to drive for Ferrari will always be an option in his career, but insists he is happy at Mercedes.

The Brit has won the world championship on five occasions, and the other drivers on four or more - Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sebastian Vettel have all driven for Ferrari at some point in their careers.

Hamilton has teased that a move to the Scuderia could still happen.

“I don’t know if it’s about being tempted. I think if it’s about whether it’s part of the gameplan” he told the official F1 site on a potential switch to Ferrari.

“I was just asked the question… ‘How would you feel if you ended your career without being at Ferrari?’ and honestly, when you’re part of Mercedes, you’re part of a family for a lifetime – provided you stay with them obviously!

“If you look at Stirling Moss, even Fangio is still honoured within the family. You’re part of their history, and they look after you for the rest of your life. That is important to me. Loyalty is a very, very key part.

“But if there’s a point in my life where there’s something I want to change, then that could potentially be an option. I don’t know if that is at the moment.”

The Mercedes man was once again subjected to boos from the partisan Italian fans at the race at Monza last weekend, but he reckons the respect is still there from the tifosi.

“I’m very, very lucky that I do have a good Italian following,” Hamilton explained.

“Ferrari, with the fans, now with this win happening and with not having a championship since 2007, there is this yearning to succeed. So I’m sure they are just relating it to the fact I have won the championship the last few years.

“But more and more as time goes on, I’m having Ferrari fans message me in my comments and say ‘I’m a Ferrari fan but I respect you a lot’.

“Things shift. But they have got two great drivers there now, so I’m sure they are happy with their new young star and I am super happy to see how he progresses.”

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