Lewis Hamilton’s contract announcement could be delayed for ‘number of reasons’

Lewis Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes could be facing delays for “a number of reasons”, according to ex-F1 racer David Coulthard.

The Brit is chewing over a £120million three-year deal with the German manufacturer, having won a record-equalling seven Drivers’ Championships.

His reluctance to accept the deal immediately has seen a stalemate develop as talks become a “game of chess”.

But Coulthard, who raced for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, believes that other factors have also come into play over the delayed announcement to Hamilton’s contract.

Speaking to the Express, the Channel 4 pundit said: “There is lots of games that goes on.”

While the Scot has no insider knowledge of the deal, he added: “As to why there isn't an announcement regarding Lewis, it could be a number of reasons.

“It could be that Mercedes feel they have gotten all of the value they are going to get out of Lewis Hamilton.

“Lewis Hamilton breaking the Championship record this year, does that serve Lewis or does it serve Mercedes more?

“If it serves Lewis more being an eight-time world champion then there's nothing really in it for Mercedes.

“If it serves Mercedes more then it doesn't really bother Lewis because he still gets an eighth title.

“Business is business. Nobody just gives money away because somebody is nice or somebody is good at what they're doing. There has to be an agreement on what the perceived value is.”

While Coulthard went on to suggest that Hamilton – who boasts £230million in personal wealth – has motives of his own.

“Maybe Lewis wants more marketing rights to use his image with Mercedes, which I expect he is not able to now,” he added.

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    • “He can use his own personal image, he is a Tommy Hilfiger ambassador, but he wouldn't have the right to have a picture alongside a Lewis Hamilton vodka with a Formula One car behind him because those rights belong to the team. Maybe he is negotiating those.

    “You could write an encyclopaedia on what could be in a contract.”

    It comes as Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that he was “ready for curveballs” in negotiations earlier this month.

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