Cape Times

Hamilton has never been happier

- Alan Baldwin

HOCKENHEIM: Four-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton ended months of speculatio­n about his future yesterday by signing a new two-year deal keeping him at his Mercedes team until the end of 2020.

The 33-year-old Briton would have been out of contract at the end of this season and the negotiatio­ns have been a major talking point in the paddock.

No financial details were given but British media reports have suggested the new deal could be worth up to £40 million a year.

Thursday’s announceme­nt is now likely to trigger other driver decisions, with Australian Daniel Ricciardo set to remain with Red Bull but waiting for confirmati­on of Hamilton’s contract.

“This contract extension has basically been a formality since (team chief) Toto (Wolff) and I sat down during the winter, so it’s good to put pen to paper, announce it and then get on with business as usual,” Hamilton said ahead of Sunday’s German Grand Prix.

“I have been part of the Mercedes racing family for 20 years and I have never been happier inside a team than I am right now,” he added.

“I’m very confident that Mercedes is the right place to be over the coming years.”

While Hamilton had been expected to stay with the team that has won both the drivers’ and constructo­rs’ titles for the past four years, there had still been some lingering doubts about his commitment.

Former team mate Nico Rosberg stunned the team in 2016 when he won the title and then announced his retirement only days later.

Hamilton, who won his first title with McLaren, enjoys a celebrity lifestyle with plenty of interests – mainly in music and fashion – outside of Formula One and there have been questions about how long he will race on for.

The Briton said that he was still hungry for success on the racetrack.

“The competitiv­e passion that burns bright inside me is shared by every single member of this group – always chasing the next improvemen­t and digging even deeper to make sure we come out on top,” he said.

“I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together in the next two-and-a-half seasons.”

The Briton is currently eight points adrift of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, also a fourtimes world champion, at the halfway point in the season.

Wolff recognised there had been plenty of speculatio­n in recent months and was happy to put it to bed.

“It’s good to put all of that to rest and get this thing announced,” he said. “We signed the final documents this week and didn’t want to keep people waiting any longer.” – Reuters

 ?? Picture: ANDREW COULDRIDGE, POOL VIA AP ?? FASHION STATEMENT: Lewis Hamilton and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Anna Wintour sit in Serena Williams’ player’s box during last week’s women’s singles final at Wimbledon.
Picture: ANDREW COULDRIDGE, POOL VIA AP FASHION STATEMENT: Lewis Hamilton and Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Anna Wintour sit in Serena Williams’ player’s box during last week’s women’s singles final at Wimbledon.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa