Ex-team owner Eddie Jordan says he would “show Lewis Hamilton the door” for the reported demands he’s making for a new Mercedes contract.
The seven-time world champion is currently unemployed by the German manufacturer and time is ticking for a deal, which team boss Toto Wolff suggested could be struck as late on pre-season testing in March.
But since the start of 2021, rumours, largely began by Italian media, claim Hamilton is demanding $40m per year plus a cut of Mercedes’ prize money as part of his new contract.
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“Apparently the parties disagree on the terms. I just heard that Lewis wants more than Mercedes are willing to pay,” Jordan told F1-Insider.com.
“It’s also about sharing the team’s income and having an influential role in the Mercedes group. If I were the boss of Daimler [Ola Kallenius], I would show him the door – either you drive on our terms or you go.”
Of course, given his status as F1’s biggest star, and having won the championship six of the past seven years, Hamilton does weld an influence other drivers could only dream of.
But: “I would also tell him what Bernie Ecclestone said after Ayrton Senna’s death,” Jordan added.
“Even though Bernie was shocked and sad like everyone else, he was the first to regain his composure and said to us ‘now stop whining – everyone is replaceable’. Lewis should know that by now.”
Indeed, with George Russell having already made a big impression on Mercedes when he substituted for Hamilton at the Sakhir GP, while he isn’t at Hamilton’s level yet, he more than offers enough to replace him full-time and at a much cheaper price.