Lewis Hamilton contract: Will new Mercedes deal be announced soon?
F1: Lewis Hamilton goes for a seaside run
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is technically a free agent. His contract with Mercedes expired at the end of the 2020 season after equalling Michael Schumacher’s title record. However, both driver and team have expressed the desire to continue their association.
Mercedes had already tied Valtteri Bottas to another one-year deal and Hamilton was initially hopeful of sorting his extension before Christmas.
Speaking after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he said: “Hopefully over the next couple of weeks. I would love – we would love – to get it done before Christmas, I think.
“I plan to be here next year; I want to be here next year.
“I think us, as a team, have more to do together and more to achieve both in the sport but even more outside the sport.”
Will Lewis Hamilton’s new contract be announced soon?
According to PA Sport’s F1 reporter Philip Duncan, talks with Hamilton are progressing but no imminent announcement is expected.
He wrote on Twitter: “RE Lewis Hamilton’s next deal with Mercedes – hearing discussions are ongoing & progressing but a conclusion is not thought to be imminent.”
PA Sport also claims Mercedes are “confident” an agreement will be reached.
Fans have since taken to social media to react to the latest news.
One wrote on Twitter: “No one knows what is going on with it. He will sign without a doubt.”
Another added: “Suspect it’s more to do with secondary issues and messaging/imagine/activism topics than money or conventional terms.
“I’m sure he’s looking for legacy building things, not cash.”
Team boss Toto Wolff said in December that Hamilton’s contract situation would need to be settled before winter testing starts.
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“From my point of view, we had such a successful run at championships in the past seven years, that there is no reason not to continue,” Wolff explained.
“He [Hamilton] is on the top of his game and he will be for a while. And that’s why continuing together is a no brainer.
“If you refer to why haven’t we got a signed contract? The reason is simple.
“We always prioritised about getting this championship done, and not being distracted by sometimes difficult discussions, as is the nature of negotiation. But then COVID struck.
“So it has delayed us a little bit, but we are not worried in eventually getting it done.
“We are putting no special date to it, because we don’t want to be put under pressure from you guys [the media] while it’s not signed yet.
“So sooner or later, it needs to be done. At the latest before we go testing.”
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