Hamilton to target Ferrari switch

UPDATE #2 This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Lewis Hamilton has indicated he will almost certainly sign a new deal with McLaren next year to continue what Martin Whitmarsh has described as his "love affair" with the team. A troubled 2011 finally came to an end for Hamilton yesterday in the kind of circumstances that were perhaps to be expected as he suffered the first mechanical retirement of the season.

Hamilton, though, sees no reason why he will not remain at McLaren even though it is highly likely seats at Ferrari and Red Bull will also be available in 2013.

Speaking to Press Association Sport, Hamilton said: "What is most important for me next year is getting back to where I should be – to the good performances, to winning, to enjoying life, enjoying the year.

"I'm at a positive place within myself. Things are getting better, and I just want to continue on this path because it would be good.

"I don't think there's any question of my commitment to the team, so there's no real rush to have to do anything. I'll just focus on the year."

11/20/11 Lewis Hamilton could be in line for a sensational switch to Ferrari. The ex-champ, 26, powered his McLaren victory in last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after a season of turmoil.

Hamilton had crashed down the Formula One rankings in a season of controversy and misery.

And there was heartbreak off the track to with a split with his Pussycat Doll pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

Hammy’s frustration has boiled over in the wake of teammate Jenson Button’s upsurge in pace and popularity and his feud with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.

Brazilian Massa’s failures, in contrast to his Spanish partner Fernando Alonso’s brilliance, have put his seat under threat – and the Prancing Horse outfit could fancy a tie-up with Hamilton.

They would not worry that Hammy and double-champion Alonso were a fiery twosome at McLaren before the Spaniard bitterly quit for Ferrari on a £50m deal.

Grand prix great and BBC pundit David Coulthard says: “Felipe is a lovely guy who drives with his heart but he no longer shows the sort of performance he did before his bad accident in Hungary two years ago.

“Ferrari probably has no choice but to look for another driver. And Massa probably knows his Formula One life is on its last legs." dailystar.co.uk

10/11/11 (GMM) Stefano Domenicali on Tuesday said he can imagine Fernando Alonso working alongside F1's new double world champion Sebastian Vettel.

"Would Alonso accept it? I think so, I think it could work. Fernando's strength is that he is not afraid of anyone, a force that comes from his maturity," the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.

But it's not a minor detail that Vettel is contracted to Red Bull until 2014, and tipped to extend his stay for a further two years.

For Ferrari team boss Domenicali, the seat to fill is currently occupied by Felipe Massa, whose deal ends next season.

"He will do everything to prove what he has to Ferrari, and the other drivers with contracts expiring will want to prove that they are ready to come," he said. "Among those, probably, is Hamilton.

"But it's early," said Domenicali, referring to McLaren's 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton, whose deal expires in unison with Massa's next season.

"Felipe had a good weekend (at Suzuka), until the contact with Hamilton. It was a shame it happened in a very positive weekend for him," he added.

Ferrari's first priority is to have a better car for 2012, and Domenicali revealed that only minor "details" of the current Italia 150 car will be saved.

"We will change everything; even the steering wheel," he said.