Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been the talk of the paddock since the start of the year. The 7-time world champion is set to run out of his current contract at the end of 2023. As is the case usually, this has opened the door to several rumours and speculations. Talks of several hundred million dollars, Lewis Hamilton going to Ferrari are among the more realistic ones. So, where are we with the negotiations?
Hamilton and Mercedes are still hot property
It is easy to see their fall from grace since 2022 as an indication they aren’t sought after. However, Mercedes are still the second-best team in the current season, and their standing reflects it. Their performance and standing have varied from race to race. However, no matter which position they have been in, they have always capitalized on others’ misfortunes. While George Russell has found things difficult this season, he has comfortably been the best non-lead driver amongst the top teams.
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As for Hamilton, he is still driving the wheels off of the car. He is one of only 3 drivers to have scored points every Sunday. The other two are Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso. Apart from Austria, he has not had a bad weekend. He even took his first pole since Jeddah 2021 in Hungary.
Hamilton’s contract focused on Formula 1 only
Amongst the various speculations, there was a very strong one that suggested that Hamilton wanted a long-term contract. The contract would have seen Hamilton assume an ambassadorial role for the brand after retiring from Formula 1. However, at the Belgian GP, Toto Wolff was quick to squash these notions. He said that Hamilton wants to stay in the sport for now, and the contract focuses on it.
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Both Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton have maintained a stoic stance that the contract has never been in doubt. Throughout multiple race weekends, amidst the various speculations, they have repeatedly said a new contract is ‘around the corner’. So what’s taking so long?
Toto admitted that the delay in announcing the contract is leading to more uncertainty and speculation. However, he assured the fans of the driver and the team there was no need to worry. According to Toto, it is now the lawyers from both sides ironing out the small details of the contract.
This is also the reason why he didn’t give a date when asked about it. He simply assured the fans there is no jeopardy of Lewis leaving the team. Keep following us to know more about the negotiations as this news progresses.
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