Hamilton contract 'agreed in principle' with Mercedes
Hamilton contract 'agreed in principle' with Mercedes
Niki Lauda is confident that Lewis Hamilton remains committed to signing a new deal with Mercedes, but suggested the world champion's inconsistent start to the 2018 season has led to protracted negotiations. Hamilton's current deal runs out at the end of this year.
Mercedes, and even Hamilton himself, had previously spoken with an assuredness that a new deal would be signed before the season started last month.
However, fresh terms remain unsigned, although it is understood that a contract has been drawn up worth £40million a year - which would make him Britain's best-paid athlete.
As 2018 has begun in frustrating style for Mercedes, who remain winless after three races, Lauda says the exact details remain in flux, but the end result will remain the same.
He told Auto Motor und Sport: "It's just about the details. Lewis will continue to drive for us.
"Depending on the mood, it is sometimes more or less expensive.
"It always depends on how the last race went. But the money is not a problem. We agree in principle."
Hamilton has previously suggested that waiting for Liberty Media to offer more details on their vision for F1 in 2021 is behind the delay over signing a new deal.
"It's always good to wait to hear some of those and see the future of Formula 1," he said earlier this month.
"For sure that could or could not have an impact on decisions we make in terms of length or whatever we end up doing in Formula 1.
"The next contract is probably the most important one of my career, this decision I make.
"So the length, your decision how long you want to commit to being in Formula 1 is becoming more and more important I think for me, being that I'm at the latter end of my career."
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey set to announce STUNNING Red Bull departure
- 3 hours ago
Newey Red Bull exit wish CONFIRMED as F1 guru's reasons revealed
- 54 minutes ago
F1 legend reveals 'FLOOD' of death threats after controversial decision
- 1 hour ago
Adrian Newey: The life and career of Red Bull's departing genius
- 2 hours ago
Sky Sports F1 pundit dumbfounded by key Ferrari decision
- 2 hours ago
- 2
Talented young F1 prodigy set to make series DEBUT
- Today 16:57
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860