F1: Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff discussed possible Ferrari move

Wolff and Hamilton talked Ferrari

When Lewis Hamilton was having contract talks with Mercedes last year the subject of a future move to Ferrari came up in the discussions.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed to Sky Sports that he had an “open conversation” with five-time world champion Hamilton about a possible switch to their biggest rivals.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Wolff said: “You need to always put yourself in the perspective of the other guy. As a matter of fact, most drivers dream about being at Ferrari one day so I’m playing through the scenarios and saying ‘if you were to take this decision, what would we do?’ [We had] a pretty open conversation.

“Even within the team we have discussed it, with Lewis we have discussed it and we have agreed on the topic.

“We had the discussion when we negotiated the last contract and I think that you just have to be open minded and understand that drivers will explore opportunities that exist and benchmark themselves.”

Latifi to take Kubica’s seat at Williams?

According to reports Williams Racing could replace Robert Kubica with test driver Nicholas Latifi.

Williams are struggling at the back of the grid and Kubica’s comeback to F1 has been “anything but successful”, says Planet F1.

Le Journal de Montreal reports that Canadian driver Latifi is being lined up to take Kubica’s race seat and partner George Russell.

The Canadian newspaper said: “Kubica reportedly had a clause in his contract stating that he could be replaced during the season.”

Dutch Grand Prix set for 2020

Formula 1 has confirmed that the Dutch Grand Prix will return to the calendar after a 35-year absence.

Joining Vietnam as the second new race on the 2020 schedule, the Dutch GP will be held at the iconic Zandvoort circuit and an agreement is in place for three years.

The BBC reports that the 2020 Dutch GP is expected to take place from 8-10 May.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is half Dutch and half Belgian and competes under the Netherlands flag. His huge fanbase is expected to make the 2020 race a sell-out at Zandvoort.

The 21-year-old said: “I’m very excited for the Dutch Grand Prix to return. I think you will see a lot of Dutch fans around the track in the dunes. I’ve done a bit of driving there before. It’s a very beautiful and historic track, so yes, it’s definitely going to be a good one. It’s a very challenging track and, you know, old-school.”

F1 news headlines

What the media is writing about in the world of Formula 1:

• Ricciardo frustrated by Renault strategy calls in Spain (Formula 1)
• Sky F1’s Martin Brundle reveals his 2021 vision (Sky Sports)
• Pit Chat: IndyCar drivers mock current state of F1 (Planet F1)
• Horner: A great shame if F1 dropped Spanish GP (GP Fans)
• Ilott: First F1 test is an ‘alien feeling’ (Autosport)