Ferrari told to 'close the book' on Lewis Hamilton contract and rip up deal before 2025 season
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Eddie Jordan has told Ferrari to rip up their contract with Lewis Hamilton after the seven-time world champion recently admitted he's 'not fast anymore'.
It's not been the farewell year that Hamilton would have wished for at Mercedes in what has been another frustrating season for the Silver Arrows.
They showed some promise in the summer months when George Russell won in Austria followed by two victories for Hamilton in Silverstone and Spa.
But it's been a difficult run for Hamilton since the summer break, picking up just 61 points in two sprints and nine Grands Prix.
He's also struggled to match Russell for pace in qualifying with the younger Briton holding a 18-5 record over one lap.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will be team-mates at Ferrari next seasonPAThere was more woes for Hamilton in Qatar last week during qualifying as he was half a second off Russell's pace.
Speaking after Sprint qualifying, a dejected Hamilton said: “I’m just slow, same every weekend. Car felt relatively decent, no issues, and not really much more to say.”
He added: "I’m definitely not fast anymore.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur has brushed off Hamilton's comments and pointed to the 39-year-old's race performance in Las Vegas where he climbed from 10th to finish second.
But Jordan, 76, feels Ferrari have serious cause for concern over Hamilton's current mood.
"If you don’t believe 100 per cent, you’re f***ed. Do you understand that?" Jordan said on the Formula For Success podcast.
"Because belief, 99.9 per cent, means that there is that tiny, little, little thing in there knocking on your head that gives you the things that maybe, 'Oh, I don’t really have that confidence. I don’t really have the ability'.
"And at the moment what I heard from Lewis, 'I’m not fast enough anymore' — they were the words, I think — honestly, if I was Ferrari, I would say close the book, find the way out. That’s it."
Jordan followed that up by asking Hamilton to think carefully about his exit from F1.
Fred Vasseur will want Lewis Hamilton to rediscover his best speedPAHe added: "I think also, if it’s a little message to you, Lewis, if you’re out there, always remember in life. You’ve got your music, you’ve got your fashion, you’ve got all sorts of other things.
"You are, in most people’s view, the greatest driver of all time. Please remember what I’m going to say to you.
"Always, always think about the best exit. And this is the time to take the money off the table. Go."
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Lewis Hamilton doesn't feel fast anymoreLewis Hamilton doesn't feel fast anymoreCoulthard agreed with Jordan's assessment that Hamilton's current mindset should be a concern for Ferrari.
"He’s as low as he can be right now. But I would say that’s pretty worrying," he said.
"It doesn’t detract from his brilliance, it doesn’t take away anything from the records, but there is a thing called mother nature and the clock is ticking."
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