LEWIS HAMILTON will meet with NFL legend Tom Brady in America next week, where you can be sure the Brit will be seeking some career advice.
Quarterback Brady is a guest of Mercedes sponsors International Watch Company at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.
Brady, dubbed American football’s GOAT, announced in February he would be retiring — saying he was not willing to “make that competitive commitment” to be the best.
But last month the 44-year-old, who has won a record seven Super Bowls, performed a U-turn and will continue playing for Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he wrestles with the concept of what to do next.
Unexpectedly, fellow seven-time champion Hamilton now finds himself at a very similar career crossroads.
The Mercedes star’s 13th-place finish in Imola on Sunday was probably his worst-ever weekend in Formula One.
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Sure, he’s had other bad weekends. But based on the performance of his car, and excluding retirements and accidents, it is the most disappointing — especially as new team-mate George Russell drove the same car and finished fourth.
Hamilton, 37, still has over 18 months to run on his contract.
Both he and Merc boss Toto Wolff said in Imola they plan to tough out the slump — and that walking away is not on the agenda.
However, at this stage it cannot be ruled out.
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Only last week, Hamilton confirmed he was stumping up cash to support a bid to buy Chelsea.
It also did not sound like he was willing to be a silent partner, unveiling plans to improve the club’s diversity and inclusivity programme and work with the local community.
He is clearly looking to make the next step in his career.
Back in 2013 when he agreed to join Mercedes after a big regulation change, like we have had this year in F 1, we all questioned his motives.
The difference now is, Hamilton is nearing the end of his career — and only he can judge if he has the same “competitive commitment” Brady mentioned.
In 2013, Hamilton knew that he needed F 1 — and F 1 also needed him.
I don’t know if that remains the case.
IT has been suggested that Sky F1 broadcasters have been throwing their weight around in the paddock.
So perhaps it was no surprise to see their roving reporter Ted Kravitz giving American radio station SiriusXM’s Chris Medland a forceful hurry-up.
Kravitz gave Medland a little bit of a playful kick as he tried to speed along his grid interview with Haas driver Kevin Magnussen. Kravitz did later apologise.
l SPARE a thought for Moto3 rider Sergio Garcia Dols who was so excited with his victory last weekend in Portugal that he drove into his own boss.
Spaniard Garcia Dols raced into the pits to celebrate but was travelling too fast and rode straight into his team.
ANOTHER weekend and another scare for the MotoGP legend that is Marc Marquez.
The eight-time world champion suffered a nightmare highside in Mandalika last month, which saw the return of the double-vision that has plagued him.
And the Spaniard, 29, had another accident in Portugal on Sunday, albeit at a slower speed than the nasty spill that landed him on his head.
The Honda Repsol rider busted the visor on his helmet during the wet FP3 session — but after checks he was given the green light to continue qualifying.
Marquez, who went on to finish sixth, said: “With wet and cold conditions, it’s easy to make mistakes — like nearly everybody did.
“But I didn’t expect to crash there because I was not pushing a lot.’’
