Mercedes must convince Lewis Hamilton they are on the right path towards Formula 1 success – or risk the Brit walking away from the sport.
Hamilton's F1 future has been under much scrutiny this year with his current deal due to expire at the end of this season. Both driver and team pledged to thrash out a new contract over the winter but an extension failed to materialise.
As a result, the seven-time world champion has been linked with alternative options – most strongly with a move to Ferrari. But former F1 racer and fellow Brit David Coulthard cannot see such an outcome and thinks there will only be one alternative if Hamilton does not commit to his current team.
"Lewis is at Mercedes or he retires. I don't see him anywhere in between," said the Scot at an event in Monte Carlo, at which Mirror Sport was the only UK media outlet present. And he went on to express his belief that Hamilton's decision will come down to how competitive he believes his team will be.
Coulthard added: "It will come down, I guess, to their development and his belief in that development path. He's here to try to win Grands Prix and championships – he doesn't need to do a global tour. So a lot of it hinges on that path."
The Monaco Grand Prix was the first F1 race weekend since a report that Ferrari were preparing a £40m contract offer for Hamilton. Speaking to reporters in the principality, the Brit denied the claim and suggested contract negotiations with Mercedes are close to a breakthrough.
The 38-year-old said: "When you're in contract negotiations there is always going to be speculation. And unless you hear it from me, that's all it is. My team is working closely behind the scenes with Toto [Wolff, Mercedes team principal] and we are almost at the point of having the contract ready.
"I'm having the team focused on that so I can just do my job. It's a much better position than I used to be in before, because I used to do the negotiations on my own and it was very stressful. I don't have to do that anymore. I have a great team doing all the work. I say what I want and that is what we are working towards. Hopefully [it will be signed] in the coming weeks."
And, later in the weekend, Wolff declared a move to Ferrari was "not happening" and reiterated Hamilton's declaration about the status of contract negotiations. The Austrian said: "We just need to put the date on the contract and sign it."
