Is this the future for Lewis - picture exclusive

How long will it be before Lewis signs for Ferrari? What on earth could Anthony Hamilton and Stefano Domenicali have been talking about when they stole this little chat - snapped exclusively by The Times Formula One Weblog's very own crap photographer - as Stefano was leaving the Mercedes buffet dinner at Hockenheim on Thursday night?

Just as the Ferrari team principal was leaving the outdoor party at the main Mercedes grandstand which was attended by Lewis and several other drivers, he passed Anthony and the two men then walked out together. Having reached what looked like a safe distance from the main throng, they then paused for probably a minute and a half when they were deep in conversation, before Anthony returned.

Of course they may have been comparing notes about hotels in Germany or holiday ideas in Tuscany. But it is also possible they were "touching base" as it were for the future. No one is expecting Lewis to leave McLaren any time soon but the notion that he will end up at Maranello at some point in the not too distant future is regarded by many in the paddock as almost inevitable.

On the other hand there are those who say relations between "Team Hamilton" and some of the senior players at McLaren(including Ron) are none too good already and the option to move might come a lot closer than Lewis's five-year £75 million contract might suggest.

In Formula One there is always a conspiracy theory knocking on the door of common sense; in this case people will say Anthony obviously did this on purpose, knowing that he would be spotted by one or more of the many journalists present and possibly even by Ron himself who was also at the dinner and looking like he had been on a very hot holiday.

My feeling is that, even if things are not completely perfect at McLaren for Lewis and his father, both of them know they owe Ron and McLaren a huge amount and, in Lewis's case especially, there is a very strong emotional bond with a team he has been associated with for more than 10 years. But you never know do you? In the wild and whacky world of Formula One anything is possible. What sort of money might tempt Anthony to the red garage? And what do you think they were saying? Suggestions here...

This apart, the Mercedes evening was notable for the very fact that Domenicali and several other Ferrari staffers - among them the team spin-doctor Luca Colajanni - turned up at the dinner. This would have been unimaginable even a few weeks ago and, when the Italians arrived in their bright red team gear, they certainly turned some heads. They headed for a table near the live band where they were joined, among others by Ron and Norbert and Ross Brawn of Honda.

It seems the new entente cordiale between the old enemies is in full swing. Whatever next?

Pics by Ed Gorman/The Times(click on images to enlarge)