Ferrari Sets Sights on Hamilton With Lucrative $50 Million Offer

• Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes contract expires at the end of the season
• Ferrari is reportedly preparing an offer for the seven-time world champion
• Hamilton has never hidden his admiration for the Italian team

Ferrari are reportedly preparing to offer seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton $50 million to leave Mercedes for the Scuderia at the end of the season.

Hamilton, 38, has repeatedly said he plans to re-sign with Mercedes once his contract expires at the end of the year.

However, the Marca reported a prediction in the Daily Mail on Monday that Ferrari president John Elkann has been in close contact with Hamilton.

Hamilton currently shares the all-time record of seven championships with legendary Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher.

He narrowly missed out on No 8 in the final race of 2021. He was eclipsed by Max Verstappen, who is now charging toward his third consecutive world championship as Red Bull has emerged as the dominant force in Formula 1 over the past two years.

Five-time Champions League winner Luka Modric hints at who he could play for next season

Football

Meanwhile, Mercedes has struggled to keep pace. That has led to speculation that the Brit may be more open to a move to Ferrari, where current drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz are under contract through 2024.

In a scenario where Hamilton makes a move to Ferrari, it raises the question about the Scuderia's current driver line-up. The team has reportedly begun contract negotiations with Leclerc, but the possibility of a swap with Leclerc going to Mercedes and Hamilton teaming with Sainz at Ferrari has emerged in rumour circles.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was recently asked about Leclerc but insisted that his focus remains on re-signing Hamilton.

"Nobody doubts Charles' ability and he is a good guy," Wolff said at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last month. "He is 100 per cent committed to Ferrari and we are 100 per cent committed to putting pen to paper with Lewis."

For his part, Hamilton has also remained consistent in his stance that he intends to remain with Mercedes.

Blow to Lionel Messi's Saudi Arabia transfer hopes as his wife remains hesitant

Football

"I'd be lying if I said I'd never thought about ending my career anywhere else," Hamilton said to ESPN at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month.

"I started at McLaren, I'd like to think I'll always be a part of the McLaren family, I started there when I was 13 years old, so I thought about what it would look like if I was at McLaren one day.

"I thought about and watched the Ferrari drivers on the screens at the track and of course, you wonder what it would be like to be in red. But then I go to my team, to Mercedes, and this is my home.

"I'm happy where I am. I haven't signed a contract yet, but we are working on one."

Hamilton spotted with Shakira

Earlier Sports Brief reported that seven-time world champion Hamilton was spotted on a boat date with Shakira, the ex-partner of former Barcelona defender Gerard Pique.

Dalot makes feelings clear on De Gea's potential replacement at Man Utd

Football

It is not understood if Hamilton and Shakira knew each other before their encounter in Miami, but they have now met twice. The two first had a dinner date at the lucrative Cipriani restaurant, as reported by The Sun.

The Waka Waka hitmaker now resides in Miami after leaving Spain, and there have been plenty of rumours about her love life.