Lewis Hamilton contract breakthrough given fresh timeline as details emerge

Lewis Hamilton ‘wants to stay at Mercedes’, according to Sky Sports’ David Croft, who also believes an announcement could be made at the British Grand Prix next month. Hamilton’s future in F1 has been an underlying topic throughout the 2023 season so far.

Both Hamilton and Mercedes were so confident last year that an agreement wasn’t far away that they were openly talking about the possiblity of an extension being signed for five years. Fast forward nearly 12 months now and there’s still no major breakthrough other than small snippets from Toto Wolff and Hamilton.

Talks have seemingly gained momentum in recent weeks following reports Ferrari were attempting to steal the British racing superstar away from Mercedes. Wolff said earlier this month that it was “a matter of weeks” until an agreement was reached while Hamilton recently claimed the reason for a delay is due to the “complex” details.

Hamilton added: “We had a good meeting just recently. They are very complex contracts. It’s not just a simple driving contract.

“Right now I’m planning to be here and racing for a decent chunk of time. You have just got to explore all avenues in the sense of how you can continue to expand your partnership with such a great organisation. It’s not as easy as just saying ‘go ahead’, and I don’t have to be in a rush.

“We have talked several times. We have a great relationship. It will get done when it’s done. If that’s next week, in a month’s time, as long as it’s done I’m not really bothered.”

But it doesn’t look like Hamilton and Mercedes fans will have to wait much longer for an agreement to be made. Sky Sports F1’s Croft believes an announcement could be made at Silverstone following the Austrian Grand Prix.

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“The devil is in the detail. Lewis wants to stay at Mercedes,” he said on Sky Sports. “Mercedes want to stay with him. It will get done.

“It won’t be about money, it will be about support for the Hamilton commission, support with the various things Lewis wants to do – tie ups in the future, maybe an ambassadorial role. There will be lots of different things that need sorting out but it will get done.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if it gets done at Silverstone, that would be a logical thing.”

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