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      Lewis Hamilton’s next move predicted by former team-mate following private chat, with Mercedes ace linked with Ferrari

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’S next move has been predicted by former team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.Kovalainen raced alongside Hamilton at McLaren for two years, but struggled to match the Brit’s pace.
      Lewis Hamilton’s next move has been predicted by a former team-mateCredit: Getty
      Heikki Kovalainen raced with Hamilton for two yearsCredit: AFP
      With seven world titles now under his belt, Hamilton is determined to win an eighth.
      However, things are not going to plan at Mercedes after a torrid season last year and a less-than-desirable start to proceedings this time around.
      Indeed, it has even led to team chief Toto Wolff declaring Hamilton can LEAVE if they cannot produce a title-winning car for him.
      This has led to the 38-year-old being linked with a seat at Ferrari, with Hamilton himself admitting he is a fan of the Scuderia.
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      But Kovalainen doesn’t see things turning out this way, revealing a chat the pair had last year.
      He told the Mirror: “Personally, I don’t see that coming – to me, he’s committed to Mercedes.
      “I met him in Hungary last year and we had a good chat there.
      “Without going into detail of what was said in a private conversation, the body language and the feel I got from him, I just felt that this is something that he wants to turn around.”
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      “He wants to turn things around for Mercedes and that’s going to tick another box on his resume – to show that it’s not that he’s only been driving good cars and making the most of the good cars, but that he can actually turn a struggling team around and lead that team.
      “That’s the reason why I’m thinking he’s not going to change.
      “I feel he wants to turn this thing around with Mercedes and then he can show the world that he can turn a struggling team into a winning team again.
      “It’s going to be exciting to watch and I one hundred per cent believe he has the skill and the will.
      “If anyone, he can probably do it.”
      In a radical move, Hamilton has parted ways with long-term performance coach Angela Cullen, who had been by his side for the last seven years.
      Paying tribute, Hamilton wrote: “For the last seven years Angela Cullen has been by my side, pushing me to be the best version of myself.
      “I am a stronger athlete and a better person because of her. So today I hope you’ll join me in wishing her the very best as she takes her next steps to pursue her dreams.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Thank you for everything Ang, I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.”
      Hamilton is back in action this weekend at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year More

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      Toto Wolff sensationally tells Lewis Hamilton he can QUIT Mercedes and find new team if they can’t provide winning car

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      MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff says he will have “no grouch” if Lewis Hamilton quits Mercedes – IF they can’t deliver him a car capable of winning world titles.Hamilton and Wolff are in negotiations over a new deal, with the Brit racer’s contract set to expire in December.
      Lewis Hamilton has been told he can quit Mercedes if they don’t make a title-winning carCredit: Reuters

      Complete F1 2023 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix this year
      While no terms have yet been agreed, both are adamant they are committed to extending their partnership.
      However, for the first time, Wolff has admitted that the seven-time world champion could be forced to look elsewhere if he wants a record eighth title.
      He said: “I don’t think that Lewis will leave Mercedes.
      “He’s at the stage of a career where we trust each other, we have formed a great bond among each other and we have no reason to doubt each other, even though this is a difficult spell.
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      “But so nice it will be when we come out of this valley of tears, and come back to solid performances.
      “As a driver, nevertheless, if he wants to win another championship, he needs to make sure that he has the car.
      “And if we cannot demonstrate that we’re able to give him a car in the next couple of years, then he needs to look everywhere.
      “I don’t think he’s doing it at that stage, but I will have no grouch if that happens in a year or two.”
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      Amid Mercedes’ struggles, Hamilton has been linked with a move to a rival constructor, including Ferrari and Red Bull.
      Indeed, the 38-year-old has in the past admitted driving for Ferrari was something he wished to achieve.
      He told Sky Sports Italia: “For many years, when I came to Monza, walking next to the fans… I could hear them saying ‘Come to Ferrari!’
      “This warmed my heart, but it’s pretty amazing that I’ve never driven for Ferrari in so many years. Because it is a dream for anyone, a goal to be achieved.”
      Charles Leclerc has been linked with a sensational swap with HamiltonCredit: AP
      He later added: “It has never really been possible [to drive for Ferrari] and I will never quite know exactly why.
      “I wish them the best and in my near future I will continue to prevent them from winning the world championship.
      “I’ve seen photos of their drivers and red is always red. I have a couple of Ferraris at home. I can drive those, but not the Ferrari F1.”
      Rumours persist that Hamilton could be part of a sensational swap with Ferrari poster boy Charles Leclerc.
      Read More on The Sun
      The 25-year-old Monegasque driver requested an emergency meeting with Ferrari president John Elkann following the Scuderia’s poor Bahrain race.
      Friday practice ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix saw Hamilton’s and Leclerc’s best finishes down at P6 and P9 respectively. More

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      Lewis Hamilton breaks silence over claims he could quit Mercedes next season for bitter F1 rivals Ferrari

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      SIR LEWIS HAMILTON confirmed he is not leaving Mercedes but insists the team needs a “kick” after a poor start to the 2023 Formula 1 season.The campaign started in nightmare fashion for Hamilton with another car that appears well below the standards set by Red Bull and Ferrari – and even Aston Martin.
      Sir Lewis Hamilton insists he won’t leave Mercedes despite a poor start to the seasonCredit: Alamy
      Lewis Hamilton, though, insists Mercedes need a “kick” to improve
      The 38-year-old is desperate to be world champion for a record-breaking eighth time and reports suggested he could be tempted to switch to a rival team, like Ferrari, in order to reach his goal.
      However, the star driver insists he is going nowhere as he still has “100 per cent belief” in his team.
      Hamilton told Sky Sports: “In hindsight, I think looking back it wasn’t necessarily the best choice of words.
      “Of course there are times where you’re not in agreement with certain team members, but what’s important is that we continue to communicate, continue to pull together.
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      “I still have 100 per cent belief in this team, it is my family and I’ve been here a long time, so I don’t plan on going anywhere else.
      “But we all need a kick, we all need to get on – the proof is in the pudding, we’ve seen where the performance is and how people are extracting the performance, and we’ve got to now start making some bold decisions, some big moves in order to close the gap to these guys.
      “Hopefully at some point during the year, we’re hopeful we might be able to close the gap but at that point it will be probably too late in terms of fighting for a championship, but we can still turn some heads hopefully.”
      Speculation over Hamilton’s future was fuelled by his current contract running out at the end of the season.
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      There was also talk of a performance clause but the British legend dismissed the speculation.
      Hamilton added: “There are no performance clauses. We are in talks, just in the process of going through the motions of what that looks like, what the future looks like, what we want to do.
      “[We are] Always looking to continuously challenge ourselves rather than just doing a driver’s contract like everyone does.
      “What can we do? We did the Ignite partnership last year on how we can promote diversity within the sport, just exploring different avenues and what else we can do. I’m fully integrated within Mercedes-Benz.
      “I’ve been with them for such a long time, since I was 13, so I’m very proud of the brand and the business, what they do, what they stand for and the impact they have throughout the world, but you can always do more, so discussions are around what else we can do together to lift people up.” More

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      Formula One team bosses rich list revealed ahead of Saudi Arabia GP – including Spice Girls hubby’s countryside manors

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      IT’S a nail-biting job, but being a team principal in the world’s most expensive sport certainly comes with some incredible perks. Just ask Formula 1 bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, who have millions in their bank accounts and enjoy the finer things in life. 
      The team principals manage affairs and are responsible for the success of their driversCredit: EPA
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff celebrates with driver Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
      Principals are the face of their teams and the decision makers who come up with strategies to ensure the success of their drivers.
      And ahead of the Saudi Arabia GP, the pressure is on Toto and Mercedes as they look to claw back points, after reigning champ Max Verstappen crossed the line first in Bahrain.
      This season a few new principals joined the familiar faces around the paddock.
      Ahead of Jeddah, we take a look at the richest people at the helm of F1 teams. 
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      Toto Wolff – 478m 
      Toto Wolff is by far the wealthiest team principal on the grid todayCredit: Rex
      With a staggering estimated £478million in his coffers, the Mercedes – AMG Petronas boss is currently the richest team principal on the grid.
      He’s also the second-highest paid, taking home £7.6million a year.
      The Austrian, 51, who started off as a racing driver himself, owns a 33 per cent stake in the Mercedes team, as well as being its managing director and executive director. 
      Many critics and fans have attributed much of Mercedes’ success to him – under his watch, the team has notched up 114 wins. 
      Most read in Motorsport
      He’s also been instrumental in the career of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, considered two of the greatest drivers of all time. 
      Off the grid, Toto is married to Susie, a Scottish former racing driver, and they share two kids.
      Christian Horner – £41.4m
      Christian Horner has been the team principal at Red Bull since 2005 and is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Getty
      The couple share a stunning country home in OxfordshireCredit: Instagram
      As team principal of Red Bull since 2005, Christian Horner is the highest-paid team boss and has a salary of around £8.2million a year. 
      He’s got the trophies to show for it, as he’s successfully led the team to nine world titles. 
      Like Toto, he started off as a driver and had some success in the late 90s – even founding his own team, but ended his driving career in 1998 at just 25.
      Christian worked in team management before joining Red Bull in 2004 and ascending to the top within a year. He’s now worth an estimated £41.4m.
      Away from the grid, the Englishman is married to Spice Girl Geri and they share two homes, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. 
      Their Oxfordshire property is breathtaking, boasting an indoor swimming pool, a pond for boating and huge grounds where they go horse riding. 
      Otmar Szafnauer – £4.1m 
      Otmar Szafnauer has been in the sport for decades and is worth £4.1millionCredit: Rex
      Although he’s the most experienced team principal, having been in the sport since 1989, Otmar’s salary is considerably less than Toto and Christian’s. 
      As the boss of Alpine, a position he has held since 2002, he is paid around £822,500, and worth an estimated £4.1m.
      Like many other principals on the grid, he also had a short stint as a driver back in the early 90s. 
      But it was his work away from the driver’s seat that brought him into the limelight.
      After working as Operations Director at British American Racing, he joined Force India in 2009, which later rebranded as Aston Martin. 
      Franz Tost – £4.1m 
      Franz Tost has been overseeing AlphaTauri since 2005 and takes home £822,500 a yearCredit: Rex
      Franz Tost also has a ton of experience under his belt – he’s been the team principal at AlphaTauri since 2005. 
      The 67-year-old was appointed after Red Bull took over Minardi, and is the oldest team principal on the grid today. 
      Before that, he was a driver and even won the Formula Ford 1600 title in 1983. 
      He quit a few years later and worked his way up the ranks of team management.
      Franz was first signed by Williams and remained there for five years before leaving for Red Bull. 
      As one of the longest-tenured team principals on the grid, he is paid £822,500 a year, and worth around £4.1m.

      James Vowles – £4.1m 
      James Vowles has a £4.1million fortune and is the new team principal at WilliamsCredit: Rex
      This is Englishman James’ first season as Williams’ team principal after serving as Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director. 
      He made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before moving on as a strategist for Brawn GP. 
      James joined Williams at the end of 2022 and at the age of 44, is one of the youngest team principals on the grid, with an estimated £4.1million fortune.
      James has a motorsport degree from Cranfield University – a qualification which is uncommon for bosses at F1.
      He also likes to dabble in driving, making an appearance at last year’s Asian Le Mans Series.
      Guenther Steiner – £4.1m
      Guenther built the Haas team from the ground up and has a £4.1million net worthCredit: Rex
      Guenther, 57, is one of the most colourful team principals Formula 1 has ever seen, as evidenced by his appearance in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      He has been at the helm of Haas since 2014 after previously serving as managing director of Jaguar and technical operations director at Red Bull.
      The Italian American began his career as a mechanic in Belgium for the Mazda Rally Championships.
      While at Red Bull, he was contacted to build the Haas team from scratch, which has helped him build up an impressive £4.1million fortune, approximately.
      He is paid £822,500 a year for his work as the team’s leader.
      Alessandro Alunni Bravi – £4.1m
      Italian Alessandro is also a lawyer and has been serving as the Team Representative of Alfa Romeo since last yearCredit: Getty
      Last year Alfa Romeo decided to move away from the team principal formula and introduced a management structure to oversee the team.
      One of the members of the management team includes Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who is worth an estimated £4.1million.
      The 49-year-old Italian, who is also a qualified lawyer, has the new position of Team Representative and will perform most of the roles of a principal when dealing with F1 bosses and sponsors.
      He was previously the team principal of the trident GP2 team and has served as a board member of Sauber since 2017.
      Frederic Vasseur – £2.5m
      Frederic Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto this seasonCredit: Rex
      The new Ferrari boss has built up a wealth of experience as the principal of teams like Renault, Alfa Romeo and Sauber.
      The 54-year-old Frenchman studied aeronautics and founded his own team in 1996 which went on to win several trophies in the junior formulae.
      Frederic is credited for overseeing Lewis Hamilton’s success in the Formula 3 Euroseries and helping him to win GP2 titles in the mid-2000s.
      Last year it was announced he would be replacing Mattia Binotto as the boss of Ferrari.
      Although he’s now worth an estimated £2.5million, it’s probably only a matter of time before this figure shoots up as he will be paid £5.2million in his new role.
      Andrea Stella – £1.2m
      Andrea Stella replaced Andreas Seidl as the team principal of McLaren last yearCredit: Rex
      Andrea Stella will most likely see a boost to his estimated £1.2million net worth thanks to his lucrative £5.2million-a-year role at McLaren.
      The 52-year-old Italian was announced as Andreas Seidl’s replacement following his decision to leave the team after a four-season run.
      Andrea’s appointment is an internal promotion as he previously served as the team’s executive director.
      He’s got an impressive history to back up his eye-watering salary – he has worked with some of the greatest drivers including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
      Mike Krack – £800k
      Mike Krack’s net worth is likely to shoot up with a reported salary of £822,500Credit: Getty
      Mike Krack has overseen the Aston Martin team since 2002 and is reportedly worth over £800,000.
      He replaced Otmar Szafnauer in the team and is set to take home around £822,500 a year, which will surely boost his bank balance.
      The 50-year-old engineer from Luxembourg previously worked with Sebastian Vettel for a year from 2006, when the racer began his career.
      Read More on The Sun
      He’s also worked in Formula 3 and has moved between teams like BMW and Porsche.
      Mike recently defended driver Lance Stroll – son of the Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – claiming he is “strongly undervalued”. More

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      Frustrated Lewis Hamilton offers bleak assessment of Mercedes’ 2023 F1 season with latest Red Bull comments

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      LEWIS HAMILTON has offered a bleak assessment of Mercedes’ chances this season.That’s after his team’s dreadful start to the new Formula One campaign.
      Lewis Hamilton has downplayed Mercedes’ hopes at winning the new F1 seasonCredit: AP
      Seven-time world champion Hamilton was hoping to make up for last term with a quick start at the opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
      But he was way off the pace with a fifth-place finish as champion Max Verstappen took gold.
      Teammate George Russell could only come seventh as their Mercedes cars lagged behind.
      And team chiefs have reportedly demanded to see an immediate improvement in performance.
      READ MORE ON F1
      Mercedes will now be hoping for a faster showing at this weekend’s GP in Saudi Arabia.
      But Hamilton reckons his team stand no chance of catching Verstappen’s Red Bull, with Ferrari the only rival in the running.
      He said: “In the race [in Bahrain] they [Red Bull] were not pushing so they were a lot quicker than they seemed.
      “They are a second-and-a-half a lap faster in the race. They will run away with it this year unless Ferrari can stop them.”
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      Indeed, earlier this month Hamilton revealed he warned Mercedes they were miles off the pace last year.
      He said:  “Last year, I told them the issues that are with the car.
      “Like, I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need.
      “And I think it’s really about accountability, it’s about owning up and saying ‘yeah, you know what, we didn’t listen to you, it’s not where it needs to be and we’ve got to work’.
      “We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points and just huddle up as a team, that’s what we do.
      “We’re still multi world champions you know, it’s just they haven’t got it right this time, they didn’t get it right last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it right moving forwards.” More

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      Who is Charles Leclerc’s new rumoured girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux?

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      CHARLES Leclerc is one of the best drivers in Formula one, having finished as runner-up in the drivers standings for the 2022 season.There has been a lot of speculation as to who he is dating, after breaking up with his girlfriend Charlotte Sine. Here’s what we know.
      Charles Leclerc is rumoured to be dating Alexandra Saint Mleux
      Who is Charles Leclerc’s new rumoured girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux?
      Charles Leclerc is rumoured to be dating Italian Alexandra Saint Mleux.
      Very little is known about her at the moment, only that she is 21 years old and studying in Paris, France.
      There have been rumours circulating online that the Ferrari driver has been spotted with Saint Mleux, suggesting a romantic relationship between the two.
      Nothing has publicly been confirmed about the relationship between the two, so for now it cannot be verified if there is a romance going on.
      READ MORE ON CHARLES LECLERC
      Alexandra has a TikTok account, which has over 18,000 followers.
      In her videos, Saint Mileux shares videos of places she has visited, which often get in excess of 40,000 views.
      Who has Charles Leclerc previously dated?
      Leclerc was dating Architecture student and fellow Monegasque resident Charlotte Sine for three years.
      He was previously dating Italian model Giada Gianni between 2015 and 2019.
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      Leclerc ended the relationship with Gianni midway through the Formula One season, as he wanted to focus on his career and challenging Lewis Hamilton for the Drivers’ title.
      Gianni announced their split via an Instagram video in 2019, stating: “Charles left me. He wants to devote himself only to Ferrari.”
      When did Charles Leclerc and Charlotte Sine break-up?
      She last attended the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the end of the 2022 season but announced their split just weeks later.
      Leclerc posted: “Hello everyone, Charlotte and I have decided to end our relationship and we remain good friends.
      “We have shared so many great moments and she is and always will be a very special person to me.” More

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      Lewis Hamilton boost ahead of Saudi Arabian GP with rival set to receive TEN-PLACE grid penalty after Bahrain incident

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      CHARLES LECLERC has been slapped with a ten-place grid penalty for this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.The Ferrari star was forced to retire in Bahrain due to issues with his car’s electronic control unit [ECU].
      Charles Leclerc will face a ten-place grid penalty this weekendCredit: AFP
      Leclerc, 25, had been in third place before being forced to quit.
      Ferrari experienced issues with Leclerc’s ECU on the morning of the race, before similar problems with its replacement forced their star man out of the opening GP of the season.
      Competition rules dictate that teams can only go through two ECUs in the space of an entire campaign.
      With Ferrari already requiring a third, Leclerc will have to start Sunday’s Saudi GP with a ten-place penalty.
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      Speaking about the issue, Prancing Horse team principal Frederic Vasseur said: “It is something we have never experienced in the past and I hope now it is under control.
      “But unfortunately we will have to take the penalty in Jeddah because we only have a pool of two ECUs for the season.”
      Despite being on track for a place on the podium, Leclerc had been way off the pace set by Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
      After the Monegasque’s retirement, veteran Fernando Alonso pounced to grab the third spot on the podium, with Leclerc’s team-mate Carlos Sainz coming fourth.
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      Leclerc’s Ferrari was forced to retire from the Bahrain GP a fortnight agoCredit: Getty
      Lewis Hamilton came fifth, with his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in seventh and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll between them in sixth.
      On his team’s prospects this weekend, Vasseur added: “I can’t be satisfied with the situation and I want to do a step forward.
      “The characteristics of Jeddah are completely different compared to Bahrain and already it will swing a little more to what we have today and we will also bring some updates to Jeddah and I hope we will do a step forward.”
      Mercedes, meanwhile, reportedly held an emergency meeting following their underwhelming start to the season.
      Hamilton, who has been linked with a sensational move to Ferrari, aired his frustrations with his current team after the Bahrain GP.
      I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t needLewis Hamilton
      He said: “Last year, there were things I told them, I said the issues that are with the car.
      “I’ve driven so many cars in my life, so I know what a car needs, I know what a car doesn’t need. And I think it’s really about accountability.
      “It’s about owning up and saying, ‘Yeah, you know what? We didn’t listen to you. It’s not where it used to be and we’ve got to work’.
      Read More on The Sun
      “We’ve got to look into the balance through the corners, look at all the weak points and just huddle up as a team, that’s what we do.
      “We’re still multi world champions you know, it’s just they haven’t got it right this time, they didn’t get it right last year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get it right moving forwards.”
      Lewis Hamilton has been linked with a stunning move to FerrariCredit: Reuters More

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      I’m Lewis Hamilton’s ex-team-mate… he won’t quit Mercedes and I reckon he may turn things around and win eighth title

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      LEWIS HAMILTON will not quit Mercedes and could turn his woes around to win his eighth world title, according to a former team-mate.The British racing legend, 38, wrapped up his seventh world title in 2020.
      Lewis Hamilton suffered a nightmare start to the 2023 seasonCredit: PA
      But a heartbreaking rule gaffe in 2021 denied him on the final lap of the Formula One crown, and that was followed by a nightmare car in 2022 that left him well off the pace set by back-to-back champion Max Verstappen.
      The 2023 season started in nightmare fashion for Hamilton, with another car that appears well below the standards set by Red Bull and Ferrari – and even Aston Martin.
      The Stevenage star is desperate to be world champ for a record-breaking eighth time – and reports suggest he could be tempted to switch to a rival team in order to reach his goal.
      But Heikki Kovalainen believes his pal Hamilton will not make the switch and instead predicts him to stay put with the Silver Arrows despite the problems.
      Read More On F1
      The Finn, who drove alongside Hamilton at McLaren in 2008 and 2009, told the Mirror: “Personally, I don’t see that coming – to me, he’s committed to Mercedes.
      “I met him in Hungary last year and we had a good chat there.
      “Without going into detail of what was said in a private conversation, the body language and the feel I got from him, I just felt that this is something that he wants to turn around.”
      Kovalainen, 41, continued: “He wants to turn things around for Mercedes and that’s going to tick another box on his resume – to show that it’s not that he’s only been driving good cars and making the most of the good cars, but that he can actually turn a struggling team around and lead that team.
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      “That’s the reason why I’m thinking he’s not going to change. I feel he wants to turn this thing around with Mercedes and then he can show the world that he can turn a struggling team into a winning team again.
      “It’s going to be exciting to watch and I 100 per cent believe he has the skill and the will.
      “If anyone, he can probably do it.”
      Hamilton is back in action at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix this weekend.
      The race at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit gets underway at 5pm UK time on Sunday.
      Hamilton was team-mates with Heikki Kovalainen in 2008 and 2009Credit: Getty More