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Hamilton Linked With McLaren Return

Will the British driver make a return to his former team?

Hamilton Linked With McLaren Return
Hamilton and Ron Dennis, Happier Days?
aaron-irwin
By Aaron Irwin

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is being linked with a return to former employers McLaren. Hamilton is currently embroiled in a Championship battle with team mate Nico Rosberg, with the relations within the team are said to be strained following the infamous collision between the pair in Belgium.

McLaren are rumoured to be dispensing with their current driver lineup of Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen in favour of a 'star driver.' Drivers such as Sebastian Vettel, Valterri Bottas, Romain Grosjean and Hamilton have all been linked to the Woking team.

It appears likely Hamilton could return to McLaren, but in doing so he'd be taking a monumental risk. McLaren are being supplied with a Honda engine for next year as the Japanese marque get set to return to Formula One after a seven year absence.

There are bound to be teething problems with the McLaren power unit for next season, as it's not known  whether it'll be successful or not, so for Hamilton to return, he'll have to cope with the problems that may ensue.

McLaren always say that they will always try to attract the best drivers available to them, and with McLaren's heritage and history, it's always an attractive proposition to drive for Ron Dennis' team. 

Current driver Jenson Button's contract expires at the end of this season, and it's not certain whether Button will be retained for 2015. The 2009 Champion is a driver whose experience is vital, and with him still being a good driver, McLaren would have no complaints should the Brit be kept on, especially with his long history with Honda. Button was a driver for Honda's main customer team B.A.R and then Honda's own team from 2006 to 2008.

Magnussen has impressed this season and is seen as a top talent for the future, and at only 21, he's certainly got time on his side. Should Hamilton reject McLaren's advances, young protégé Stoffel Vandoorne is waiting in the wings should he be called upon.

Its highly unlikely Hamilton will leave the Silver Arrows, especially due to the fact that Mercedes are the fastest team in Formula One at the moment, but should he leave, there's definitely a seat at McLaren for him.

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About the author
Aaron Irwin
Formula 1 editor, Football League co-editor at VAVEL UK. Writer since July 2014. Hull City correspondent. Currently studying for a Journalism degree at Hull School of Art and Design.