The McLaren director expects Hamilton to win an eighth Formula 1 title and retire in 2021
McLaren team manager Zach Brown expected British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton to achieve a record eighth title in the Formula One World Championship this season and retire from motorsport with his end.
Brown, the engineer of the McLaren renaissance after a period of recession, said in an interview with the British newspaper "Daily Mail" that he expected Mercedes to contract with Dutchman Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver, and Britain's George Russell from Williams in the 2022 season.
He revealed that he will not seek to bid for Hamilton's return to McLaren next year as he is building a team for the future with Britain's Lando Norris and Australian Daniel Ricciardo.
On the sidelines of the first race of the season at the Sakhir Circuit at the Bahrain Grand Prix at the weekend, Brown, 49, explained that it would be a "bad timing" for Hamilton if he wanted to join a new team next year.
The seven-time world champion's contract with Mercedes expires at the end of this year after he renewed it for an additional year only last season, prompting speculation about his future before the start of the 2021 season, consisting of 23 races (a record), in light of the continuing restrictions due to Covid-19.
"Would I put Lewis behind the wheel if I had a vacant seat? Of course. But we are trying to build for the future, so we want a mixture of youth and experience," the American said.
He continued, "If I bring Lewis again now, it will be for a year or two and we know that we are not ready to compete for the championships, so we need to prepare a group of drivers to take us to this place so that they are ready when we get to him."
"Daniel is ready now of course, I don't think the timing is right for Lewis," he added.
As for the Mercedes team’s plan for the future, which currently includes Finn Valtteri Bottas alongside Hamilton, Brown said, "I think you will see Max and George with them in 2022, I think this is a clear conclusion."
"Lewis wins the eighth title this year and becomes the most successful driver in every category. They have a one-year contract with him, while George's contract (with Williams in 2021) and Max ends his deal (with Red Bull)" that lasts until 2023.
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