07 July 2023 , 08:59
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Lewis Hamilton says he believes he can race in Formula One for another five years and insists that a new Mercedes contract is just around the corner.
Hamilton’s current deal expires at the end of the season and there has been continued speculation about the negotiations to extend his stay with Mercedes. It had been claimed that the 38-year-old and his team were a long way apart, with Hamilton wanting a new long-term deal with guaranteed income, while Mercedes would only grant him a one-year contract with the option of a second.
Throughout the period Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have been steadfast in their stance that there was nothing to worry about and things would be ironed out soon.
Speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, Wolff said : "I'm still very confident [of striking a deal]. They want to do it super, to every detail and sometimes you can have a situation where everything is carved out.
"This is not a money discussion at all. It is about the future, what is it that we want to do right and optimise? We're not talking anything anymore about duration, money, all of that – it's other topics."
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Hamilton was asked about Wolff’s comments ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix. He simply stated: "That's correct."
Asked by Sky Sports whether Mercedes’ poor form had made him reconsider a new deal, Hamilton replied: "That's not what I'm thinking. Before the end of the season we'll be already well into the contract. I still have 100 per cent faith in this team.
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"I'm hoping to be here a lot longer. I feel like I've got another five years in me at least, no? Let's see."
Hamilton’s current contract is worth £27.5million per year and also includes a £15m bonus for winning the title. He is the second-highest paid driver in F1, behind Max Verstappen, who pulls in £43m per year with Red Bull.
Hamilton has been with Mercedes since leaving McLaren in 2013 and has become the face of the manufacturer and Wolff has been clear that they want to keep him on board. Asked about a timeframe last month, he added: "Soon, I think we're talking more days than weeks. He's the most important personality in the sport.
“He's so multifaceted, not only the racing but also off-track. We need to keep in the sport for as long as possible.
"It is going to happen soon, and we are talking more days than weeks. From a team's perspective, Lewis and Mercedes have gone back a long time. He has never raced for any other brand than Mercedes. We both joined the team in 2013 together, and from a professional relationship, we now have a friendship. It has been a wonderful time."