‘I would not blame Hamilton if he left’ – Wolff

• Published date: 18 March 2023

Hamilton was only fifth at the first round in Bahrain before he finished a distant 11th in practice yesterday for this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, one second adrift of Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Although team principal Wolff remains convinced that Hamilton, 38, will pen a new deal, he also said that his star driver's head could be turned as he pursues a record eighth world championship.

Vacancy

"If Lewis wants to win another championship he needs to make sure he has the car," said Wolff. "And if we cannot demonstrate that we are able to give him a car in the next couple of years then he will need to look everywhere. I don't think he is doing it at this stage, but I will have no complaints if that happens in a year or two."

Red Bull could have a vacancy at the end of the year with Sergio Perez operating on a 12-month deal, but it seems improbable that Hamilton would be paired alongside his great rival Verstappen.

Ferrari is a possible avenue to explore if Charles Leclerc elects to engineer a move away.

But Wolff added: "I am absolutely confident...