Hamilton backed to go on racing into his 40s
CHAMP EXPECTED TO SIGN ANOTHER NEW DEAL
MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton can stay in Formula One beyond his 40th birthday and expects his star driver to commit to at least a two-year contract extension.
Hamilton, 36, is riding on the crest of a wave after winning Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix to solidify his best ever start to a season.
The seven-time world champion has a 14-point cushion over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after winning three of the first four races. Following his triumph at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton signalled his intention to sign his next Mercedes deal before August’s three-week summer break.
The Englishman is currently operating on a one-year contract, agreed just six weeks before the new season. But team principal Wolff says he believes Hamilton’s next deal will be longer than a 12-month add-on. “Yes, it should be (more than a year),” he said.
“We don’t want to be in a stressful situation every single year where we are absolutely flat-out trying to win races and needing to negotiate. I would rather that doesn’t happen every year.
“We just need to spend a day or two together, put it out there, and decide which are the difficult components.
“We will then lock the door and won’t walk out until it is sorted. That works best for us and it has worked best for us in the past. ” Hamilton will be 37 in January, but Wolff, who has overseen his driver’s march to six of the last seven championships, likened the Briton’s longevity to Tom Brady.
The NFL star won his seventh Super Bowl at the age of 43 earlier this year.
Asked if Hamilton can compete into his 40s, Wolff replied: “Yes, absolutely. I have no doubt about that. He is so disciplined that in a way it is inspiring.
“As long as Lewis continues to look after himself mentally and physically, continues to develop cognitively, then he can go on for much longer.
“Look at Tom Brady and we are talking about an athlete that is on the field. Here is a racing driver that has utilised all his senses. ” Hamilton, whose latest victory moved him to within two of a century, will continue his bid for an unprecedented eighth world title in Monaco.
Hamilton perfectly executed a Mercedes pit-stop gamble to beat Max Verstappen to victory at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Hamilton’s hopes of claiming his third win from four races appeared slim when he was left out on old tyres for four laps longer than his rival during the opening round of pit stops at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.
But the world champion’s Mercedes team rolled the strategy dice by calling in their star driver for a second time with 24 of the 66 laps remaining.
Hamilton was faced with a daunting 22-second deficit to overturn, but by the start of lap 60, Verstappen was within striking range.
The seven-time world champion followed the Dutchman at over 200mph along the pit straight before darting to the left and placing his Mercedes around the outside of Verstappen’s Red Bull to secure his 98th win and fifth in as many visits to Spain.