Rosberg raises big questions over Wolff’s latest Lewis Hamilton contract update

Lewis Hamilton shows off his impressive surfing skills

Former F1 world champion Nico Rosberg has been left perplexed by Lewis Hamilton’s contract situation. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently claimed that the Brit’s new deal had been ’emotionally agreed’, although fans are still being kept waiting as he nears the end of his big-money deal.

Hamilton has been with the Silver Arrows since 2013, winning six of his seven F1 world titles working under Wolff. Mercedes’ performances have dropped off since 2021, however, leading to speculation over the 38-year-old’s future.

Despite fleeting links to Ferrari, Hamilton and Wolff have both maintained that the seven-time world champion wants to stay put and see out his career with his current team. Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Mercedes boss said: “The status is we haven’t signed it but emotionally we have done it.”

Rosberg, who spent four seasons racing alongside Hamilton before retiring in 2016, was left baffled by Wolff’s update.

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“Can someone tell me what that means when a contract is emotionally done?” he said. “I have no idea where they are at, or why Lewis is taking so much time. All of us hope that he will continue of course, and it really seems to be the case.

“Especially with the car progressing now, that’s going to help that contract process also. Once Lewis now feels the possibility, ‘Hey I can do pole positions again, I can win races, yeah I want to continue doing this.'”

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At the Hungaroring, Hamilton qualified on pole for the first time since 2021, sparking optimism in the Mercedes camp that they had finally closed the gap on Red Bull. However, the Brit’s lead was wiped out in the first corner as reigning double world champion Max Verstappen skilfully nipped up the inside.

With Lando Norris and Sergio Perez also forging ahead, the best Hamilton could manage was fourth place. Before the race, he provided a similarly vague contract update to that of his team principal.

“Honestly, I just don’t have any more information for you to share this week,” Hamilton explained. “It’s with the lawyers, back and forth. I’ve not been a part of it the whole time. I’ve been removed from it from the beginning.

“I wanted to be able to focus on all the other things that I have going on. The team are working on it in the background. There’s no negotiation left, it’s just all the small bits.”

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