F1: Eddie Jordan ‘absolutely certain’ Lewis Hamilton will sign for Ferrari in 2021 - and Toto Wolff could join him

Jordan: Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2021

The “Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari” speculation is building up yet again with Eddie Jordan saying he’s “absolutely certain” the Formula 1 world champion will join the Italian team in 2021.

Hamilton’s Mercedes contract expires at the end of the 2020 season and in recent weeks it’s been revealed that the 34-year-old has held informal talks with the Scuderia.

In an interview with Top Gear magazine, F1 pundit Jordan predicts that Hamilton could be joined by Mercedes principal Toto Wolff at their rivals.

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Jordan said: “It would be the right time for Lewis to go to Ferrari [in 2021]. He’s coming to the end of his career, but he still wants to win his seven or more titles.

“But the real belief that I think Lewis will go to Ferrari in 2021 is that Toto Wolff’s contract expires at the end of next year. He knows Mercedes’ long-term future in Formula 1 is not a certainty. Indeed, Lewis has mentioned Toto’s contract on more than one occasion, which is unusual for an F1 driver to do.

“Lewis would only go to Ferrari if someone could protect him against any possibility that Charles Leclerc could usurp him. So Ferrari would bring Toto along too.”

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Vettel: 2019 was a six or seven out of ten

Sebastian Vettel, who could be replaced by Hamilton at Ferrari, admits that he is eyeing a “plan” for the future, GrandPX reports.

The German is not yet seriously considering his retirement from F1, although he says his performances must improve.

When asked about his 2019 season, the four-time world champion told Swiss publication Blick: “It was not good enough for an eight, nine or ten. A five would be too harsh, so I’ll say a six or a seven. But I have to be careful because things like that get rubbed in your face.”

There has been speculation that Vettel could walk away from F1 when his contract expires next year, but it’s also been reported that he has been in contact with McLaren about a seat in 2021.

On any retirement plans, the 32-year-old said: “Not specifically. But after more than 12 years, you wonder what comes next. You shouldn’t go through life without a plan, even if you don’t know if it’s really the plan that will happen.”

Stokes beats Hamilton to SPOTY award

Six-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton finished second in the public vote for the 2019 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

England cricketer Ben Stokes won the award ahead of Hamilton and Team GB sprinting star Dina Asher-Smith.

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