DAMON HILL believes Mercedes could be “sweating” over Lewis Hamilton’s failure to sign a new contract.
Four-time Formula One champ Hamilton has said since the start of the year he is close to agreeing a £120million three-year mega deal.
But questions are starting to be asked about his future as he is stalling on committing to the team.
And 1996 F 1 king Hill said: “Lewis does a very good job of appearing innocent and not understanding but I think he has a very astute mind when it comes to what his power is in the sport.
“He is powerful enough and a precious commodity in the sport and maybe just making them wait and sweat a bit. Mercedes might be sweating.”
Hamilton faced a similar situation at McLaren in 2012 where he was offered new terms and the promise of a race-winning car.
But he stunned the team by joining Mercedes — and Hill believes the Brackley-based team should fear a repeat.
Hill added: “He has to really want to race and carry on. He does have another life he wants to pursue elsewhere.
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“Although he did not look like that in Barcelona last week, he looked as though he was really hooked up and enjoys what he is doing and can become champion again.
“But I wonder if Nico Rosberg’s retirement weighed on his mind a little bit. When you are an F 1 driver, you hanker for the days when you can escape from it.
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“It is a very tough life for a driver. You start thinking, especially in the mid-30s, about having a weekend off.”
The drivers’ market looks set for its biggest shake-up in years, with Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso at McLaren all out of contract after the season.
And Hill says Mercedes chief Toto Wolff cannot afford to lose another world beater from under his nose, as happened when Rosberg shocked the sport by retiring after his world title win in 2016.
Hill also floated the idea that Hamilton, 33, could SWAP places with Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari. The Brit, 57, said: “Sebastian is under contract at Ferrari but he is a German driver and Mercedes are a German team, there could be the old switcheroo.”
After victory in Barcelona eight days ago, Hamilton repeated that he did not anticipate any further delay in signing his contract.
Hill added: “It’s like pressing the button on a new car design — you don’t do it until the last minute because sometimes regulations change.”
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