Mercedes and Hamilton: A contract under the Christmas tree?
Mercedes driver since 2013, Lewis Hamilton hopes to extend his contract with the German team before Christmas.
The seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton is still in negotiations with the star-branded company. In 2013, he came to replace Michael Schumacher, whom he now equals with seven world crowns.
The team and the driver had agreed to reconsider the terms of this contract after winning the world title. If Lewis Hamilton clinched the F1 World Championship after the Turkish Grand Prix, his quarantine after a positive Coronavirus test has probably delayed negotiations with Mercedes.
The contract extension between the two is beyond doubt, even if Lewis Hamilton has sometimes enjoyed clouding the issue: « I’d like to be here next year, but there’s no guarantee for that, for sure. There are many things that excite me outside (of F1). Time will tell. »
Indeed, with 74 victories to his name and 6 world champion driver titles in just 8 years, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have no reason to terminate this partnership.
« We would like this to be done before Christmas, I think. I plan to be here next year. I want to be here next year. I think as a team, we have more things to achieve together and more to accomplish in the discipline, but even more outside of it. I hope we can start this week, the discussions, and have it settled before Christmas.»
The question of an extension almost no longer arises today since Mercedes has already registered its champion on the official list of drivers for the 2021 season.
