Berger: Like Senna, Hamilton doesn't believe Ferrari can win

Perhaps a year ago this time he might've snapped at the idea with Mercedes in the doldrums and Ferrari flying high, but this year it's a sorry state for the Reds, while the Black Arrows are on the mend, it appears.

Nevertheless presented with that scenario by Kronen Zeitung, namely Hamilton to Ferrari, Berger - a former team principal and ex-F1 driver with Ferrari - did not dismiss the idea as folly.

The Austrian ventured, starting with the age-old tune: “Every racing driver wants to drive for Ferrari at least once," adding: "And almost all the good ones have been there. Ayrton Senna just didn't go to the Scuderia because he knew he could never win there. Maybe Lewis thinks so too.

"But if he doesn't get a competitive car at Mercedes, if he doesn't see a place at Red Bull Racing, then he might think: I don't want to stop just yet, I want to try Ferrari again. Maybe I can fix it,” suggests 63-year-old Berger, who raced for the Scuderia from 1987 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1995 scoring five victories in Red, including a memorable one at Monza.

"Although Lewis constantly emphasizes that he would never leave his Mercedes family, but that means nothing in Formula 1. No one reveals their cards there!" warned Berger.

Notably, Hamilton's seven F1 titles, 103 Grand Prix victories and an equal number of pole position starts were all achieved with Mercedes power; in fact, the Englishman has never driven for another engine manufacturer in F1, a unique legacy of loyalty he has built.

As a warning, Hamilton can tap into history and the career of the legendary driver he replaced at Mercedes back in 2013 - Michael Schumacher - who went from a Ferrari Hero to a Mercedes Zero. And as it stands today in the F1 pecking order, it would be almost certain role reversal for the 38-year-old, a Mercedes Hero to a Ferrari Zero.

The Senna parallel made by his mate and confidante Berger is pertinent because former Ferrari big boss Luca di Montezemolo admitted he "talked about talks" with the Brazilian, who had expressed his desire to race for the Italian team before his life was cut short at Imola in 1994.

Stefano Domenicali revealed once that Ferrari considered hiring Hamilton, while Lewis has also flirted with Ferrari, but nothing serious. Last year when Mercedes delivered a dud of a car for him to campaign, while the Red cars owned the first few races of the season, with Charles Leclerc an early favourite for the 2022 F1 title until it all went pear-shaped.

Out of contention then, Hamilton declared to Corriere, at the time: "I'm a Ferrari fan."

Prompting the follow-up question: So why not a final F1 hurrah with the sport's greatest team? Pointing to a tattoo trumpeting 'Loyalty' on his arm, he reiterated: "Loyalty! Of course, it would've been nice to race for Ferrari during my career, but things happen for specific reasons

"Mercedes is my family, I will always be a Mercedes driver like Stirling Moss was," insisted Hamilton, nevertheless begging the question: Would he feel the same if Ferrari were as dominant today as Red Bull are right now?