Lewis Hamilton ‘demands £250m Mercedes deal’ that’d see him race until age 43

Lewis Hamilton is reportedly chasing a mammoth five-year contract as talks with Mercedes reach crunch time.

The seven-time F1 champion’s current deal expires at the end of the season and talks over an extension are continuing.

Earlier this week, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Hamilton’s contract renewal would be resolved “in days rather than weeks”, adding that he was “trying hard” to finalise terms with his superstar driver before this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.

But speaking in Montreal on Thursday, Hamilton, 38, said: “I don’t have a huge amount to say on the contract. It will get done when it is done. If that is next week, or in a month’s time, as long as it gets done, I am not really bothered.”

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The Daily Mail reports Hamilton is demanding a bumper deal worth £250million that would see Hamilton remain with the team until he is 43.

A source with ‘knowledge of the protracted negotiations’ told the Mail: “Lewis wants five years, and if it were just a one-year extension I don't think he'd accept it.

“They may need to reach a compromise because, while George [Russell] has probably made peace with the idea of Lewis being around for a couple of years, he might not accept being in the shadow of his team-mate for the long-term.”

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Hamilton has been linked with a move to Ferrari, but the source added: “There is always a lure about Ferrari, but Lewis will probably think that his only hope of winning his eighth title is by staying where he is. Money is not a delaying factor.”

After the Spanish Grand Prix a fortnight ago, Wolff said it would take only “half an hour over coffee” to agree an extension to Hamilton’s £40million-a-season deal.

Hamilton met with Wolff the day after that race in the hope of rubber-stamping a new deal and has also spent time with the Austrian in New York this week.

Pressed on those talk at the media briefing in Montreal, Hamilton added: “I have seen Toto and we have talked several times. We have a great relationship but there is nothing to say at the moment.

“Asked if any progress on negotiations had been made, Hamilton replied: “Yes, but there is nothing new to add to it.”

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