These are crucial days to define the future of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton. Lewis' contract will expire at the end of the season but the 7-time world champion and Mercedes are in full negotiations. The last two seasons have been really complicated. First the world championship faded in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021. In 2022 the exclusion from the world championship due to a non-competitive single-seater - a situation that continued until 2023, the last year of the contract with Mercedes. All conditions which, combined with Lewis' age, have made one think of an imminent farewell. Actually the reason for this long wait concerns, as always, the conditions of the contract.
A Mercedes found
Lewis achieved two consecutive podiums in recent weekends Spain and Canada. Undoubtedly Mercedes is going through the best period since the beginning of the season, also thanks to the updates which debuted in Monaco and which will continue to mark the rebirth of the W14 in the coming races. Mercedes' goal is to rank as second force. Last year they didn't succeed, especially due to a disastrous start to the season. This year the music is different because there is much more homogeneity between second and fourth place. In addition to second place in the constructors' championship, Mercedes is also aiming for second place in the drivers' championship.
If the battle with Max Verstappen does not hold up due to the deadly car-driver combo, there is still hope for second place, which Perez, Alonso and Hamilton are currently competing for. The Mexican driver is in trouble. On the contrary, both Alonso and Hamilton are showing their claws.
Lewis' renewal
Unlike his teammate, George Russell, former Williams, and in the star's team since 2022 has already renewed until 2025. For Lewis the negotiations are still ongoing because, as also specified by Toto Wolff, with Hamilton we are discussing money, a lot of money.
The conditions of the 7-time world champion, as reported by Daily Mail are quite pretentious: include the bonus of 15 million pounds – currently linked to the possible conquest of the world title, in the basic salary. Furthermore, once his career in F1 is over he would like a brand ambassador role for Mercedes. This job, for 10 years, should guarantee him a salary of 20 million pounds per season. The last condition concerns the nature of the contract. Not a 1+1 as proposed by Mercedes but a multi-year one.
The meeting point will be found in the end, because both are intent on keeping everything as it is and there is a great relationship between Lewis and the team. But It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this tug of war.
Source: FormulaPassion
