Seventh title just made Lewis Hamilton's new contract "really more expensive" - Toto Wolff

Lewis Hamilton

Seventh title just made Hamilton's new contract "really more expensive" - Wolff

Newly-crowned champion has no deal beyond this year

Ian Parkes

Sunday 15 November 2020 15:14

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton's new contract "just got really more expensive" in the wake of him claiming his record-equalling seventh Formula 1 title.

Hamilton produced another stunning drive in difficult conditions around Istanbul Park to take the chequered flag for the 94th time in his F1 career.

With the championship wrapped up, it now becomes a question of when he will put pen to paper on another deal with Mercedes.

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"It just got really more expensive today," said Wolff. "More than likely we are looking towards the end of the year.

"It's not that we wouldn't find time for each other, but I don't want to put ourselves under pressure to say 'before Bahrain', or 'before Abu Dhabi' that we will announce a new contract.

"There isn't any pressure. When it's done, it's done."

Wolff is in no doubt he and Hamilton will finalise terms as he feels there is more the 35-year-old and the team can achieve.

"He loves racing and the competition, as does the team," added Wolff. "If we didn't have the competition against the stopwatch then life would not be as fun.

"So I see us going for more next year, putting another great year on, and then we have this tremendously challenging regulations change for 2022 so we will go for a while."

In wet conditions and on a very slippery track, the only small error Hamilton made was on the opening lap when he ran wide at one corner that cost him three places, dropping from third to sixth, the position he had started from.

Beyond that, Hamilton was faultless and from a position of being 25 seconds off the lead at one stage, he finished just over 30 seconds clear of second-placed Sergio Point in his Racing Point.

Hamilton made a set of intermediate tyres last for 50 laps that were worn down to near slicks come the flag, underlining his position as one of the greats.

"He ranks in terms of his record on Michael's level in terms of drivers' championships, while he is the absolute record holder with pole positions and race victories," acknowledged Wolff.

"Today he kind of cemented his position among the all-time best sportspeople in the world.

"His driving was impeccable. There was not one thing, not one foot he put wrong, whereas everybody else did, and with a car that was, [given the] interaction with the tyres, not the best car."

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