Lewis Hamilton shares Mercedes aims as Brit ready to sign new contract

Laura Hamilton thanks friend and colleague Jasmine Harman

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Lewis Hamilton has shared his aims to build with Mercedes away from F1. The 37-year-old has won six of his seven championships with the Silver Arrows and could be set to pen a new deal with the team as his current contract expires at the end of next year.

“Even beyond racing, I want to be building with Mercedes – I think there is a lot Mercedes can do,” Hamilton explained. “It’s not just a car manufacturer. It provides so many jobs for so many people. It has such a powerful platform to really shift narratives. It has a place to really have a positive impact on the environment and how we move forwards.

“There are loads of different things we can do together and I want to be a part of that shift and process with Mercedes far beyond winning races and championships. But for now it’s important we win championships so that’s the immediate focus.”

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff spoke to Channel 4 ahead of last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, where he insisted that he and Hamilton “are totally transparent with each other.” And he said that Mercedes would indeed be looking to extend the driver’s contract.

Hamilton has struggled for form this season after teams were forced to redesign their cars during the winter in the wake of regulation changes. But Hamilton has revealed that he is still enjoying life in F1. “I spoke to him (Wolff) about his comments,” Hamilton said as he discussed his contract situation. “I can’t say just yet, possibly. I’m feeling good, I love what I’m doing. We have a lot of work to do, a lot to achieve still.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere any time soon. I’m planning on staying longer. It’s not set in stone on how long. I plan to be with Mercedes for the rest of my life. That’s a definite. It’s more figuring out what we’re going to do, what are the timelines.”

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After winning his first F1 title with McLaren in 2008, Hamilton triumphed with Mercedes in 2014 and 2015. And the Briton went on to win four titles in a row between 2017 and 2020. He looked set to become the most successful driver in the history of the sport by winning his eighth title last season after leading the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. But following a late Safety Car, Max Verstappen claimed silverware to win his maiden title.

This time around, Verstappen has a staggering 104-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship and is cruising towards another title. And, with Hamilton a lowly sixth following Mercedes’ problematic season, the Silver Arrows superstar will need to experience a precipitous upturn in fortunes if he is to ever compete for titles again in the future.

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