Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has been tremendously successful ever since he joined Mercedes in 2013. From 2014 to 2020, he was literally unstoppable. However, in 2016, his teammate back then, Nico Rosberg, defeated him to win the championship. Anyhow, Mercedes ruled from 2014 to 2021. Moreover, despite Hamilton losing the driver’s championship in 2021, the team won their eighth consecutive constructor’s title. However, since last year, they lost their grip on the title, and so did Lewis Hamilton.
Due to the flawed concept of their W13 car, with zero side pods, Mercedes faced tremendous bouncing trouble. Lewis Hamilton could not win a single race for the first time in his career. In the current ongoing season as well, Lewis Hamilton only gained a couple of P2 finishes, but not a Grand Prix win for the seven-time champion to extend his 103 record GP wins. Nobody has won more races than Hamilton. Hence, it is weird to see him not getting to the top as of yet. On top of that, the fans are getting more curious than ever regarding his contract extension with Mercedes. Regarding that, some shocking news has emerged for the Mercedes fans, which will shock them to the core. But what is that? Keep reading to find out.
Has Mercedes Blocked Hamilton’s Contract Extension? WHY?
It has been over a year of discussion about when Hamilton and Mercedes will finally seal the deal. Moreover, fans will hope the team and the driver continue their successful relationship for a longer time. According to reports, Lewis Hamilton wants the same. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton’s team has asked for a ten-year brand ambassador contract worth $300 million. However, the previous rumor was that Hamilton was looking for a 5-year plan as he plans to stick around as a driver till he is 43 years old. But the question is if Mercedes is ready to sign such a deal with the veteran F1 champion.
Only the board in Stuttgart can approve a ten-year contract worth $300 million with Lewis Hamilton. But it seems like there is very little interest in agreeing to such a huge financial investment from the main board’s end. Moreover, in the post-race interview after the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton mentioned, “It is more complicated than any ordinary driver’s contract extension.” Hence, it is clear that Hamilton wants a multi-year deal with Mercedes. But the German team is planning to offer him a single-year deal. Hence, the future of the relationship between the team and the driver is a little bit uncertain at present. Moreover, Hamilton’s F1 future is still in stone.
Martin Brundle Feels Mercedes Has A Leverage To Play With Lewis Hamilton
Additionally, the F1 pundit Martin Brundle suggests Mercedes can play the George Russell card to negotiate with Lewis Hamilton. On the other hand, the seven-time champion can deal on the virtue of an underperforming car. Lewis would like to see the W14 car in an improved state. Moreover, he would like to extend his titles to eight. But Mercedes can shift their focus on George Russell as the one who’ll bring the title back home again. Moreover, the Sky Sports F1 reporter mentioned, “Mercedes and Hamilton should not act hastily only to repent later.”
