Hamilton contract delay due to future role with Mercedes - F1 boss Domenicali

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali believes the delay over Lewis Hamilton's new contract with Mercedes is as a result of the seven-time champion defining his future role with the team beyond his racing career.

With less than four weeks until Mercedes launches its new car for the coming season, when its drivers are expected to be on hand at the unveiling, Hamilton has yet to agree terms on his latest deal.

Although the clock is ticking, it is understood that while there are sticking points in the negotiations, there is little anxiety on either side as they slowly reach a consensus on the intricacies of the agreement.

From his perspective as F1's new leader after taking over the role at the beginning of the year from Chase Carey, and as someone who has been involved in negotiations in the past with drivers given his former position as Ferrari team principal, Domenicali feels there is a key point in discussions.

"I think they're talking about a lot of stuff," said Domenicali in a conference call with selected media, including GPFans Global. "I'm sure that Lewis wants to understand a lot of points [relating] to his future.

"I want to see him still very involved in Formula 1. It is his life, it will maybe be his life in the future, or he may be interested in other things. We can see he has a lot of interests and is so good at being involved without losing focus.

"There are a lot of points. I don't think it's related only to his salary. It's more related to what they have in mind to share together in the future, I think that's the reason why.

"Maybe they're not in a rush, that they've decided it's all okay. We never know. But for me, it will be good to see, as soon as they have the announcement, Lewis with the energy he has always given to Formula 1, and I'm sure that will be."

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff has already indicated that he is not expecting the new contract to run over three years, as was previously the case, suggesting only a one- or two-year agreement.

If that is what transpires and it is to be Hamilton's final deal of his F1 career, then as Domenicali has pointed out, he may be seeking certain assurances with regard to a potential future role with Mercedes that is now equally owned by Wolff, Daimler and INEOS billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

"It is a very important moment of his life, and I would say, not being in Lewis' head or Toto's position, he has to take an important decision for his life," added Domenicali.

"I really hope that we can have this announcement soon because what he is going to fight for this year [a record-breaking eighth F1 title], from a sporting perspective, is incredible, and I can imagine the pressure and the dynamic on how he wants to reach this new record because that would be an incredible story to tell.

"The only thing I can say, personally, if there is still talk between Lewis and Toto, that's great."

With a smile, he then added: "I'll just remind them we have the first race at the end of March in Bahrain, so that's the first time I really would like to see Lewis and Toto be together for that event."

Joking aside, Domenicali is naturally hoping the talks conclude favourably and Hamilton remains in F1 given the global focus he brings to the sport.

"Lewis is an incredible driver, an incredible man, an incredible athlete, and he has given to Formula 1 a different dimension that is over the sport, I would say," assessed Domenicali.

"Lewis is a massive ambassador for Formula 1, who is really very important for Formula 1 because he is the one who is embracing other values into the discussion, with his face [now recognised] in a lot of areas away from the sport.

"As soon as we know what will be his future, it will be great to see him fighting for something that no-one would have thought possible to achieve after Michael's era. It will be really great."

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