‘Find the way out’ – Ferrari urged to RIP UP Lewis Hamilton’s £78m contract by F1 legend after ‘worrying’ admission

FERRARI have been urged to tear up Lewis Hamilton’s mega-money contract after the Brit made a “worrying” admission.

It has been a season to forget for Hamilton as he has struggled to bring the best out of his car in his final year with Mercedes.

Hamilton, 39, is due to switch to childhood heroes Ferrari next season, as Carlo Sainz heads to Williams.

But last week, he was called out for making a “worrying” comment ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix.

Hamilton said after sprint qualifying: “The positive is that the car is fast and George should be able to shoot for pole tomorrow.

“Who knows? I’m definitely not fast anymore.”

Ex-F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has now advised the Italian team to tear up Hamilton’s contract in light of his admission.

Jordan told the Formula For Success Podcast: “If you don’t believe 100 per cent, you’re f****d. Do you understand that?

“Because belief, 99.9 per cent means that there is that tiny, little, little thing in there knocking on your head that gives you the things that maybe, oh, I don’t really have that confidence.

“I don’t really have the ability. And at the moment what I heard from Lewis, I’m not fast enough anymore, they were the words, I think.”

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He added: “Honestly, if I was Ferrari, I would say close the book, find the way out. That’s it.

“I think also, if it’s a little message to you, Lewis, if you’re out there, always remember in life. You’ve got your music, you’ve got your fashion, you’ve got all sorts of other things.

“You are, in most people’s view, the greatest driver of all time. Please remember what I’m going to say to you. Always, always think about the best exit. And this is the time to take the money off the table. Go.”

Former F1 star David Coulthard also found Hamilton’s uncharacteristic admission troublesome.

Coulthard said: “He’s as low as he can be right now. But I would say that’s pretty worrying.

“It doesn’t detract from his brilliance, it doesn’t take away anything from the records, but there is a thing called mother nature and the clock is ticking.”

Hamilton holds the all-time F1 record for pole positions but has been beaten over one lap by team-mate George Russell 20 times this season.

And it has raised questions about his competitive edge as he looks towards teaming up with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari.

The Brit did manage to win two races, at Silvertone and in Belgium earlier this term but sits seventh in the driver’s standings.

The seven-time champ activated a release clause in his Mercedes contract to join Ferrari in a “multi-year” deal that is reportedly worth £78million per year.

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk