McLaren Eye Replacement For Hamilton

McLaren Eye Replacement For Hamilton, McLaren are preparing for life without Lewis Hamilton if the Briton defects to Mercedes. Hamilton ignoring ‘rubbish’ as McLaren eye Perez, Hamilton, whose deal with McLaren runs out at the end of the season, is at the centre of a storm of speculation that he is set to take Michael Schumacher’s place at Mercedes.

The paddock has been awash with rumours since the August break, with the latest reports suggesting McLaren have sounded out Sauber’s Mexican Sergio Perez as a possible replacement.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh had conceded during the Monza GP weekend that McLaren did not have a ‘Plan B’ if Hamilton were to move on, but the 22-year-old Perez would be an exciting replacement. Perez has taken two second-place finishes this season with a midtable car, and his stock has risen dramatically.

Hamilton, meanwhile, refused to be drawn on this future after he won last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix and on Sunday, on a promotional visit to Mumbai, he said he was yet to sign a contract with any team.

He also refused to set a timeline for a new deal to be struck.

“I don’t have a timeline. My focus is on trying to win this world championship,” Hamilton told reporters at an event for sponsors Vodafone ahead of next week’s Singapore Grand Prix.

“Of course I do have to have those things sorted out but I do have people in the background working on those contract negotiations.

“There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a lot of stories that aren’t true.”

Hamilton’s career has been backed by the Woking-based team since his mid-teens when the Briton raced go-karts and all his 20 Grand Prix wins have come at the wheel of a McLaren.