2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button claims there is little room on the grid for Lewis Hamilton outside of Mercedes.
Hamilton’s contract with the Brackley-based squad expires at the end of the 2023 campaign, however both parties have expressed confidence that their partnership will continue into next year.
The seven-time World Champion is enduring a difficult period, with Mercedes competing off the front-running pace since the start of 2022.
The team has struggled to recapture the form that it held from 2014 to 2021, leaving some to suggest that Hamilton could seek a move elsewhere.
But while acknowledging that his former team-mate is loyal to Mercedes, his ex-team-mate Button says that Hamilton has little choice but to remain at the team.
“Well, he’s loyal, but I also don’t think he’s got the options that he would want,” Button told Sky F1.
“I don’t really think he would have the option at Red Bull – I don’t think he would be the right fit alongside Max [Verstappen].
“I don’t think he’d be at Ferrari. Aston Martin? Definitely won’t be going to Aston Martin, they’ve got two seats that are going to be filled there for a little while.
“I think his future will be at Mercedes but he is also a loyal character and it’s good to see him going through some tough times with that team.
“I think they will come out the other side together. You know, it’s a rollercoaster in F1, especially when you’ve been on top for that long, there’s going to be a dip.
“But if you can stay with that team, they will rise to the top again, and he’s not going to retire.”
Mercedes is set to introduce its first major upgrade of the 2023 season at the next round from Imola.
However, team boss Toto Wolff has warned that it will not completely eradicate the deficit to Red Bull, who has won all five races to start the 2023 season.
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