It is a win-win situation.
Which leaves me, and the rest of the sport, pondering two big questions: Will
it happen? And would it be a good move for him?
I hate to sit on the fence but I’m going to have to; I reckon it is about
50/50 that Lewis will go to Mercedes. You can make a persuasive case either
way.
McLaren are the team Lewis has been with all his life. They have huge
resources and provide a car capable of winning races year in, year out.
Mercedes, on the other hand, represent a fresh start for a driver who has, by
his own admission lost his way on occasions, who continues to do his growing
up in the public spotlight.
They, too, are rich in terms of resources and heritage. And as mentioned
already, they are probably prepared to give Lewis more commercial freedom,
which would be his ticket to superstardom under Fuller.
Ultimately, though, it all boils down to winning. You need to be successful to
be a superstar and that is what Lewis will be mulling over: which team are
more likely to win him championships?
Here again, however, the choice is not so simple. Mercedes have won just one
race since their return as a full works team. Yet the truth is that McLaren
have won just one title this century, despite their many race wins.
On top of which, we are heading for some fairly major changes in the sport.
The new V6 1.6-litre engine, due to be introduced in 2014, means that it may
make sense for a star such as Hamilton to align himself with a manufacturer.
Mercedes will have a longer lead time in terms of building and designing their
car, as well as massive resources at their disposal.
What would I do if I were Lewis? It is always a bit of a gamble switching
teams, leaving a known quantity for an unknown one. You can never be 100 per
cent sure it will prove the right decision.
The truly great drivers, though, from Alain Prost to Michael Schumacher, have
always been able to make their decision the right decision.
For whatever reason, the combination of Lewis and McLaren has won just one
title since he exploded on to the scene in 2007. I would never presume to
tell Lewis what to do. But sometimes change can be a good thing.