Hamilton contract delay due to future role with Mercedes - F1 boss Domenicali
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."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 2024 Miami Grand Prix results: Norris STUNS Verstappen for historic victory
- 55 minutes ago
Norris delivers X-rated celebration after AMAZING win- top three verdict
- 8 minutes ago
F1 Driver of the Day: Norris claims award after SENSATIONAL win in Miami
- 34 minutes ago
Big SMASH hands huge advantage to Verstappen F1 rivals
- 1 hour ago
Verstappen MISTAKE triggers Miami safety car drama
- 1 hour ago
Red Bull star PUNISHED by F1 rivals after dreadful start - Lap One Report
- 2 hours ago
F1 Race Calendar 2024
-
GP BAHRAIN
29 Feb - 2 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP SAUDI ARABIA
7 - 9 Mar
Max Verstappen
-
GP AUSTRALIA
22 - 24 Mar
Carlos Sainz
-
GP JAPAN
5 - 7 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP CHINA
19 - 21 Apr
Max Verstappen
-
GP USA
3 - 5 May
Lando Norris
- GP ITALY 17 - 19 May
- GP MONACO 24 - 26 May
- GP CANADA 7 - 9 Jun
- GP SPAIN 21 - 23 Jun
- GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun
Related news
Hamilton reveals Mercedes' biggest Miami problem after miserable display
Hamilton Miami FIA penalty verdict announced
Hamilton suffers Miami F1 sprint nightmare after hitting wall
F1 pundit opens up on 'most romantic story' in Hamilton's career
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