The 2023 season has been thoroughly uncertain so far for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, with the seven-time champion having to encounter a situation he’s almost never had to deal with—the expiration of a contract without any surety of where he’ll spend the next season of his Formula 1 career. When Mercedes was taking its own sweet time with the contract negotiations, Ferrari was rumored to have stepped in with a whopping $49 million a year offer, but Hamilton seems to have said, “Thank you, but no.”

With reports speculating that the seven-time champion has signed a two-year extension with the Brackley outfit—a 1+1 deal (basically with an exit clause after 2024)—could this have pointed to certain trust issues between the seemingly strong partnership? And can Ferrari jump back onto Hamilton’s radar?

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes’ deal points to everything but mutual trust

When contract negotiations started at Brackley, Hamilton first wanted a $25 million-a-year 10-year deal, with 2 years in the racing seat and 8 years as Mercedes’ ambassador. Toto Wolff and Mercedes quickly rejected that suggestion and instead pointed to how they wanted a one-year guaranteed extension with the possibility of a second, a 1+1 deal. From the looks of it, Mercedes seems to have gotten what it wanted. But what does the 1+1 deal entail?

Mercedes hasn’t had the best couple of seasons. From fighting for the championship in 2021 to barely competing at the front, there was a big shift in morale at Brackley, especially after Hamilton couldn’t achieve his eighth title. As much trust as Hamilton would’ve lost in Mercedes, it’s been a two-way street. When George Russell joined Mercedes in 2022, he beat Hamilton that season, proving he was worth the shot. This instilled faith in Russell’s abilities and slightly dampened Hamilton’s performances. 

Considering Hamilton is still chasing his eighth title, the 1+1 deal would help him assess Mercedes’ upward trajectory as it has promised. If it fails to deliver, he could look for other places, even Ferrari. The Scuderia did a considerably better job than Mercedes last season, proving that it still has the potential to build a championship-winning machine. If Ferrari does do better in 2024, Hamilton can very well leave Brackley to join Maranello, despite having turned down its rumored offer earlier this year.

Read More: After Launching Staggering $25,000,000 Demand, Lewis Hamilton Issues Fresh Update on His Contract Negotiations With Mercedes

It’s evident that, even though Hamilton looks like he’s going to stick around Mercedes for another season, both parties have lost a little trust in each other. Mercedes is starting to focus more on younger talent, and Hamilton is chasing an eighth title that Mercedes can’t seem to give him at the moment. As reports suggest, if the deal is confirmed at the Dutch GP, 2024 will be a crucial season for Hamilton and Mercedes’ partnership because Ferrari might just be looking to pick up the pieces. The question is: Who will replace him at Mercedes?

Is a swap deal with Ferrari in the cards for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?

When discussions about Hamilton’s possible departure from F1 came up, or even a shock switch to Ferrari, people started speculating potential replacements for the seven-time champion. One name that stood out was Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s golden boy. Although Leclerc has his sights set on winning a championship with Ferrari, even he would want to look at better options for his career. Could Mercedes be that team?

According to F1 journalist Peter Windsor, Leclerc would be the ideal choice for Mercedes to replace Hamilton. In a YouTube live stream, he said, “I think Charles is such an interesting driver, in such an interesting time of his career because he’s very good, but he’s not looking very good. He’s obviously got issues going on in his head to do with all the stuff that comes with the dramas at Ferrari and everywhere else. For me, the challenge would be to get the best from Charles, and I would love to do that.”

Even though Leclerc is amid negotiations with Ferrari for a contract extension, he is also rumored to have an escape clause. If Ferrari does sign Hamilton, could Mercedes return the favor and sign Leclerc?

Watch This Story: How Long Will Charles Leclerc Wait for Ferrari – Will He Leave for Some Other Team Post-2024?

Which do you think will be a better driving pairing? Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, or Charles Leclerc and George Russell?