Mercedes to start Hamilton contract talks in days
LONDON: Mercedes are aiming to start contract talks with Lewis Hamilton in the next few days ater the Briton bagged a record-equalling seventh Formula One world championship, team boss Toto Wolff has said.
Explaining the delay, the Austrian said in an interview to the BBC: “Flying back from a seventh drivers’ championship, you can’t talk about a contract. It wouldn’t do justice to the achievement.
“We’re going to give it a few days then we are going to talk about it.”
The 35-year-old Hamilton’s current deal ends next month.
Wolff told reporters jokingly ater Hamilton won Sunday’s Turkish Grand Prix to clinch the title, and equal Ferrari great Michael Schumacher’s seven, that Hamilton had “got really more expensive”. He also indicated that there was still no rush. “I think more than likely we are looking towards the end of the year,” the Austrian said of the timeframe.
“Not that we wouldn’t find time for each other but I don’t want to put ourselves under pressure to say before Bahrain or before Abu Dhabi we will announce a new contract because there isn’t any pressure. When it’s done it’s done.”
Formula One heads to Bahrain next week for races on successive weekends before the Dec. 13 finale in Abu Dhabi.
Both sides have said they want to continue but just have to put pen to paper.
“We’ve got three weeks in the Middle East -- so, now it’s a bit more chilled but I still have three races ahead of me that I want to win,” Hamilton said on Sunday when asked about the talks. “It’s not done but we will get it done, I’m sure.”
Meanwhile, Hamilton has said becoming the most successful Formula One driver of all time means nothing unless he can help tackle racism and push for change.
“Competing and winning championships is a great thing, but what does it really mean? It doesn’t mean anything unless you can help push for change,” he said on Tuesday.
“I cannot keep silent during this time.” Powerful Media, whose annual Powerlist on Tuesday, named Hamilton as Britain’s most influential Black person.
Hamilton has used his plaform more than ever this year to make his voice heard on subjects from racial injustice to diversity and the environment.
The Briton has set up a commission of experts to help increase the representation of Black people in British motorsports, and routinely takes a knee and promotes Black Lives Mater at races.