LEWIS HAMILTON has revealed he did hold talks with Ferrari about moving to the Italian team – but the offer wasn’t right.
The Brit sealed a stunning seventh world title this weekend after another dominant season in his Mercedes.
But there had been talk that Hamilton, 35, could leave the Silver Arrows for a move to the famed scarlet Ferrari with his contract up this year.
In an interview with respected Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, the seven-time world champ revealed talks took place over a blockbuster switch.
He said: “We were never really close.
“We talked on occasion but we didn’t go beyond understanding what options were on the table and they weren’t the right ones.”
Speaking about Ferrari, Hamilton added: “Our positions have never aligned.
“I think timing matters and things happen in the end for a reason.
“In recent seasons my contract always expired in years different from that of all the other drivers. In the end, it went like this.”
Hamilton matched Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles this weekend and there are calls to knight the Brit.
He also is now ready to hash out a new £120m three-year deal with Mercedes after what feels like years of speculation over his future.
The 35-year-old has just 43 days left on his contract with three more races in the 2020 season.
When asked the reigning champion if now was the time to sign up now he’d secured the title, he said: “Definitely it’s something that we do need to get onto.
I just always think, through the year that I’ve got a job to do, I’ve got a contract in place, I don’t feel like I should add pressure.
“It has to be organic and not something that’s forced. So, I thought I’d bet on myself.
“Naturally there are days when you think ‘what happens if you start making mistakes?’
“What happens if you get worse all of a sudden, you don’t put in these great performances?
“Does your value decrease? Does your bargaining power decrease? Does your reputation go off a cliff?
“I know there’s scenarios in life where you’re like ‘let’s sign up real quick’, so you guarantee your future, and for me, I’ve bet on myself.
“I do the work. I know myself better than anyone and I know what I can do, and I know how to do it. Better than ever.
“And so, I wanted to put it aside and wait until the job is done.
“So, probably over these next weeks – we’ve got three weeks in the Middle East – so, now it’s a bit more chilled but I still have three races ahead of me that I want to win.
“It’s not done but we will get it done, I’m sure.”
