Hamilton to sign two-year Mercedes extension – report https://www.planetf1.com/news/lewis-hamilton-mercedes-contract/ Lewis Hamilton is reportedly in the ‘advanced stages’ of signing a two-year contract extension with Mercedes, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. Hamilton, who is currently out of contract at the end of the 2020 season, had been strongly linked with a move to Ferrari after the Italian newspaper also first broke the news that the two parties had engaged in talks during the 2019 season. However, with Charles Leclerc committing his long-term future to Ferrari and Max Verstappen doing likewise at Red Bull, Hamilton looks set to follow suit by extending his stay with the Silver Arrows. In Friday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport, journalist Luigi Perna concluded an article on Hamilton, which opened with the six-time World Champion’s vow to become “a machine” this year, with the following lines: “In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton is in discussion with Mercedes over the renewal of his contract,” wrote Perna. “The negotiation, which will see Hamilton extend his stay until the end of 2022, is at an advanced stage and is worth in the region of 45m Euros a year with bonuses.” With Leclerc and Verstappen technically off the market for Mercedes, it left them with one main priority to tie Hamilton down as he goes in search of a seventh World Championship title. Hamilton had spoken about the dilemma he was facing as he weighed up his loyalty to Mercedes with the temptation of a new challenge with Ferrari. “I know I look good in red,” Hamilton told Channel 4 last October. “But it’s a very, very difficult scenario. “I’ve been with Mercedes since I was 13. Change is always cool but loyalty is everything, that is why I have this tattoo [on his left arm]. “I’m not going to be racing forever… what am I going to do in the future? “Do I want to remain part of Mercedes doing something quite epic beyond racing? “If I was, for example, going to shift [teams] then I don’t know what that is going to look like.”
Jenson Button (in his new book) says he thinks HAM will keep racing for a good number of years. Why quit when you've got the best car?
I would advise him to stick with Merc as well, he has already left a team to join a lesser team to win (Mclaren - Merc), been there done that, no need to prove anything. Do as Schumacher did finishing with Ferrari, he had one of the most obedient team mates in F1 history.
In that, they are in the same boat as the rest of the team, technicians, mechanics, engineers, etc ... who suffer from such a heavy schedule all through the season. With 22 GPs (and Liberty wants up to 25), all the travelling and preparation, there isn't much time for rest, training, family time, etc ... or even promotional work. 25 GPs means an average of a race every fortnight, with not much time left to enjoy life. Think about all the jet-lag !!! I
In the long term yes, just as he should being 13 years younger. We've seen a massive maturity growth in Verstappen over the last year. LeClerc is doing an outstanding job but isn't thee yet. Hamilton may be at the point he's lost that last 0.001 of a second on raw pace, but he rarely (I didn't say never) makes mistakes, contacts other cars etc.
Don’t bet on it. Still doesn’t quite yet have LH’s mental strength/fortitude. At this level, that’s a substantially decisive factor.
Also, as David Coulthard recently said, "Older driver don't go faster, but they are smarter" (or words to that effect). Years of F1 experience and driving for a very good team put Hamilton in a very good position.
On occasion yes. But overall, he will finish in the top 3, at least, and is probably favourite for a title in 2020.
I'd love to see him join Ferrari but I don't think it will happen. Would be nice to take an above average car and truly test his ability. He will win 7+ world championships wherever, would be nice to do one with the Scuderia though
I really don't care. His being on the grid or not being on the grid will not make the racing any better or more interesting. The only cars and racing that I find interesting now are the vintage ones.
Hardly a surprise. The challenge of winning a WDC at Ferrari was probably too much of a stretch, even though Ferrari is more competetive than it was in '96. Lewis wants to retire on a high. Mercedes remains the seat to have...ask Bottas.
I think he realizes joining Ferrari opens up more concerns than just the past year's strategy attempts; he's already seen Seb & Charles clash & I doubt he wants to see Charles as his Rosberg 2.0. I'd also be willing to bet Ferrari is looking to replace Seb. with another young talent that won't be as gifted as Charles, but will learn just as much alongside & compliment Charles as a teammate.
I'm not a HAM fan, but with 6 titles, you have to admit he's a good driver, with "good" being defined as winning a lot and/or getting into the best team. However, a lot of his success is the Mercedes team over the past years, both performance and reliability. In 2020 I hope we see BOT come back stronger, with Ferrari and Red Bull fighting at the front ALL year. 2020 should be a much bigger challenge for HAM to stay at the top, with LEC and VER fighting it out for the next champion title.
No doubt. Hamilton got stressed when Rosberg borrowed his superior engineers for the year and won the WDC. Lewis would not want a similar dynamic with Charles.
Shame if he won’t go to Ferrari. As it stands his undoubted talents are masked by the brilliance of the Merc package and that will always be the case. Had he gone to ferrari and won the wdc with them, he would have done it against a well regarded talented teammate (Leclerc) and with a clearly inferior team. He would have equalled or surpassed Schumachers 7 wdcs and he would have become the only driver to win the wdc with 3 different teams. He would have become the greatest of all time. If he stays at Merc he’ll just remain as ‘one of the best’.