Lewis Hamilton is off to Ferrari and Mercedes will sell their Formula 1 team to Lawrence Stroll, paddock veteran Eddie Jordan claims.
The future of the six-time world champion was a hot-button topic at the end of last year into 2020 as it emerged during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend Hamilton had met with Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
More recently, however, comments from both Lewis and Maranello appeared to rule out any possibility, with Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz and Antonio Giovinazzi the three names mentioned as possible replacements should Sebastian Vettel leave.
Jordan though believes Hamilton is still certain to make what would be a blockbuster move.
“Lewis will switch to Ferrari,” he told F1-Insider.com. “Only the Italians can still afford his salary and they know that he is worth it.
“[Max] Verstappen will stay with Red Bull and try to beat Lewis, but that will be very difficult.”
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As for what Hamilton’s move would mean for Vettel, Jordan added: “Unlike Lewis Hamilton, I don’t know Vettel very well, but in my opinion, he has no choice but to stop or switch to McLaren.
“The train at Ferrari has long left for him.”
So why will Hamilton leave Mercedes, well the former team owner and current Channel 4 pundit thinks it’s because there won’t be a Mercedes works outfit on the grid in 2021.
“The Mercedes leadership cannot do anything else [but leave F1], they have achieved everything, won everything,” the Irishman claimed.
“Under these circumstances, they can no longer promote further successes.
“They will sell their team, perhaps to Lawrence Stroll, who aims to become World Champion with his son and his new Aston Martin brand.
“That indeed will be difficult with his current Racing Point team.”
And once Mercedes go, Jordan expects others to follow.
“I am convinced that manufacturers like Mercedes, Honda and maybe Renault will pull the ripcord and will end their Formula 1 commitment in the next two years,” he added.
“The world has not only changed extremely because of the corona, but the values of people have also shifted.
“Environmental awareness is high on the list. For the bosses of the companies, this means that they too have to rethink.”
Well, that’s certainly quite the vision, let’s see how much of it becomes reality…