F1: Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to begin talks over new £46.5m-a-year deal
Toto Wolff says the team and driver are an ‘obvious pairing’
Mercedes may have revealed the livery for their 2020 car yesterday, but the biggest topic of conversation remains the future of star driver Lewis Hamilton.
The six-time Formula 1 world champion is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of the upcoming season and it’s recently been reported that the Briton could make a switch to Ferrari in 2021.
Mercedes and Hamilton confirmed last week that no talks have yet taken place over a new deal, but Sky Sports reports that negotiations are set to begin.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Speaking at the W11 livery launch in London, team principal Toto Wolff said the Mercedes-Hamilton partnership is the “obvious pairing going forward”.
He said: “We would like to have the fastest man in the car and I know that Lewis wants to have the fastest car. There is a mutual outcome.”
On speaking with his driver during the winter break, Wolff added: “We travel around the world almost 10 months of the year and get on each other’s nerves every other weekend and what we do over the winter is leave each other in peace.
“The last conversation I had with him was in the evening before the Christmas party, where we had a nice chat and said we would continue our discussion on his future once he is back from America and we start the season.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Big money
On its back page today The Times reports that Mercedes will begin negotiations with Hamilton this week as they bid to stop the 35-year-old from moving to Ferrari.
Hamilton is currently on a £31m-a-year deal with Mercedes, but the Times says that he could be offered £46.5m-a-year to stay. The Daily Mail estimates it could be nearer £60m annually.
After spending much of the off-season in the United States, Hamilton will return to the team’s headquarters in Brackley, Oxfordshire, on Tuesday.
Wolff is “pretty optimistic” that Hamilton will remain with the team, the Daily Mail reports, but the Austrian says money is not the “sticking point” for the No.1 driver.
“You need to respect that a sporting superstar at the peak of his ability has a limited period to earn this kind of super money,” said Wolff.
“We do respect that and the contribution he brings to Mercedes on and off the track. Equally, Lewis has always respected that we are Mercedes and there are certain financial realities important to us.
“The current environment in the automotive industry is about efficiency and cost-cutting. But money has never been a sticking point with Lewis.
“The last contract negotiation was more about giving him the freedom to pursue his own projects. With him getting older, maybe the freedoms need to change or grow. We want the best guy in qualifying on Saturday and in the race on Sunday, and that is my main focus.
“I am not in any way stressed that we don’t have a signature on the dotted line. I am pretty optimistic that we will.”
After unveiling their W11 livery, Mercedes will now fully launch their 2020 challenger with a Valentine’s Day shakedown at Silverstone on Friday.
F1 pre-season starts on 19 February at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Mercedes W11 livery is unveiled: pictures and fan reactions
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The pros and cons of globalization
Pros and Cons Globalization can promote economic prosperity but also be exploitative
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - October 11, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - October 11, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - October 11, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - October 11, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Christian Horner and the Red Bull saga that refuses to go away
Why everyone's talking about 'Too dizzy-making' even for the 'merry-go-round world of F1'
By The Week UK Published
-
Max Verstappen: F1’s record-breaking world champion
Why Everyone’s Talking About Red Bull star has surpassed records set by Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1 ‘silly season’ hits top speed as 2023 grid takes shape
Under the Radar Twitter explodes with news of driver moves, denials and rumours
By Mike Starling Published
-
Lewis Hamilton on his F1 future: ‘I have plenty of fuel in the tank’
Under the Radar Seven-time world champion finished second on his 300th grand prix start
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1: a bumpy start to the season for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell
Under the Radar Only four races in and Mercedes already look off the pace
By The Week Staff Published
-
F1 Bahrain GP reactions: Ferrari ‘back with a bang’ as Leclerc ‘tames the beast’
feature The Tifosi celebrate a stunning one-two for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1 2022 season guide: race calendar, championship standings and 2023 grid
feature Max Verstappen has now won 14 of this season’s 20 grands prix
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Lewis Hamilton’s future: could he retire from F1?
Why Everyone’s Talking About It remains ‘unclear’ if the seven-time world champion will be on the grid in 2022
By Mike Starling Published