Mercedes puts down the speculative contract talks of Lewis Hamilton, while they add more on other things including F1 2023 prep.
The 2022 F1 season is now a distant memory as all teams and drivers turn their attention the 2023 campaign. One of the more interesting pieces is around Hamilton signing a new contract sooner rather than later. The man himself advised last year that he planned to sign off on a contract extension with the Brackley outfit over the winter, with his current deal finishing at the end of this year’s campaign.
So much so, that Hamilton had said that both he and Wolff would sit down and thrash out a deal which as per the Austrian, would only take a few hours. However, the reason for the delay was quite simply that both parties, at Christmas went and did their own thing and have not been in contact.
Over the winter, news outlets started reporting about a two year extension where one from French blog Sportune was singled out, which also included a clause of 10-year ambassadorial role with Mercedes as a demand from Hamilton. The salary stated was £62 million per year for the two seasons, while the ambassador role would be £25m per year.
In a short media statement from Mercedes to media including FormulaRapida.net, Mercedes spokesperson played down the report and noted what Wolff stated to media after James Vowles’ announcement that talks haven’t yet begun.
“We have a full year to go,” said Wolff. “We’re so aligned. In the last 10 years our relationship has grown that it’s just a matter of him physically being back in Europe, sticking our heads together, wrestling a bit and then leaving the room with white smoke after a few hours.”
Hamilton last year indicated of a two year with Mercedes for the moment as he is not certain where he will be in five years time. He is taking things slow at the moment and short contracts will work for him more than a long-term one. But in 2023, it will be a milestone for the Brit with the German F1 outfit.
Having joined in 2013, both Hamilton and Wolff are to celebrate a decade long partnership. Mercedes is not planning a major celebration as such. In fact, it will be 30 years also for the German manufacturer to return to F1 when they partnered with Sauber in 1993.
Moving away from the contract and milestones, Mercedes also shared information about final FIA homologation tests being completed on the W14. The operations team is full on producing the chassis for both the drivers while testing other parts of the car. On the power unit side, they are being fine-tuned and being passed off for delivery to Bahrain.
Here’s Mercedes trio in Brixworth
Here’s Toto Wolff on not replacing James Vowles
Here’s James Vowles and Toto Wolff on the move
Here’s Mercedes trio on 2022
Here’s Lewis Hamilton, George Russell on their partnership
Here’s Toto Wolff on tracing issues, no fear
